TrialSite continues to mobilize fact-check services for the mainstream media portrayal of COVID-19-related situations around the world. This time we travel to Brazil, following a Business Insider piece that declared that Brazil’s use of ivermectin as an early state treatment for COVID-19 didn’t work and America should be informed. What follows is a correction of the questionable reporting of Hilary Brueck writing for Business Insider.
Questionable Journalism
First, it should be noted TrialSite employs a team of technical and scientific talent in Brazil. A highly educated group, the TrialSite team in Brazil includes staff that collaborates with research facilities and medical education centers around the country. While the first ten lines of Ms. Brueck’s article stick somewhat with the facts, (e.g., there was a COVID-19 kit issued by the health department for early care) the Business Insider author goes astray later where she declared, “Brazilians quickly discovered—through heart-wrenching personal experience—the limits of treating COVID-19 with ivermectin.
TrialSite Brazil points out that the link referenced had nothing to do with proof of the failure of ivermectin. It’s a link to a major investigation around a corruption scheme involving overpricing of medication, health insurance fraud, and early release of patients even without major COVID-19 symptoms to boost revenues.
Then, Ms. Brueck declared, “Brazil suffered some of its worst death rates yet late in 2020 and early 2021, even in heavily ivermectin-dose areas, as the more transmissible P1, or Gamma, variant spread quickly across the country.” In this case, Brueck and Business Insider linked a small city’s report, which has absolutely no references to ivermectin whatsoever to substantiate their argument – and failed, of course.
TrialSite Brazil declared that this seemed like a very cheap journalism trick, particularly when the person making the quote refers to a distant country where it’s difficult for readers to fact-check.
In response to Ms. Brueck’s article, Natalia Taschner, a Brazilian microbiologist and research scholar at Columbia University in New York, stated, “Then wonder: if this drug worked, would Brazil be in such shape.”
TrialSite shares with readers that Brazil is a low-and middle-income country (LIMIC) with a population of 220 million. There is significant corruption and poverty in the country and we have showcased racial inequality during the pandemic. Poor black areas have been particularly hit hard by SARS-CoV-2. Of all the experts to select Business Insider opted for one with what seems to represent a significantly biased view. Was she handpicked? Why were experts on the ground in the southern regions where ivermectin was heavily in use not chosen? Why wouldn’t this journalist nor Business Insider think to secure an unbiased, credible expert with credible sources for a balanced view?
On Vaccination
The journalist quoted Brazilian doctor and infectious disease specialist Dr. Akrami who declared, “Across political divides, most people are being rational and saying, ‘I should get vaccinated to protect myself’ and continued, “There’s a proud tradition of getting vaccinated here. It’s kind of seen as your civic duty.”
While about 45% of the country has received a full two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, TrialSite’s Brazil team observes that today’s demand for vaccination is more fear-based than altruistic. The people increasingly are more afraid of the COVID-19 virus rather than an experimental vaccine with potential side effects. The propagation of misinformation in Brazil is common. Political actors and forces prey on creating divisiveness, keeping people apart on antiquated notions of left or right. The country has one of the highest rates of uneducated around the world—with over 8% of the population classified as illiterate, despite the country’s size and wealth. Basic education is a must but is never prioritized as it seems. In a survey ranking the 36 most developed countries around education, Brazil is ranked second to last.
Left Field Reporting
Finally, the report points to the Brazilian government’s new protocols for COVID-19 treatment, which recommend against using ivermectin in hospitalized patients because they say there isn’t solid evidence it works.
TrialSite points to the link on page 40 of the file—the new recommendations—that states that ivermectin is not to be recommended for hospitalized patients. We all know that most of the regular drugs used for COVID-19 do not work for hospitalized patients—that is the whole point. Ivermectin and other drugs are supposed to be used during early-onset patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Ms. Brueck and Business Insider stated that ivermectin doesn’t work for hospitalized patients so they could justify the hit piece targeting use for patients in any stage. This is yet another Business Insider article propagating partial truths, obfuscation, and in some cases, omissions, and outright lies.