Big turnout for event covering alternative views on pandemic

Nick Hudson of Pandemics: Data and Analysis (Panda) also argued that those who had recovered from Covid had better immunity than those who had been vaccinated, and described the vaccination of children as unethical due to the low threat they face from the disease itself.

More than 150 people packed into the presentation room at Les Cotils to hear alternative views about the Covid pandemic, government responses to it and treatments for the disease.

The event, which had been advertised on social media and via flyers, was held in the Harry Bound Room, where many had to stand due to the large turnout.

Mr Hudson is a South Africa-based actuary who spoke via live link on a big screen. His presentation, which was received with enthusiastic applause from a majority of those present, dealt with what he described as an existential threat created by a global over-reaction to Covid-19.

He argued that governments had been co-opted by the large pharmaceutical companies that had manufactured the vaccines, and were causing more harm through lockdowns than could be caused by the disease itself. He claimed propaganda campaigns were being orchestrated to usher in new political states and that the media were fully involved in censoring dissenting voices.

‘Suddenly, all the newspapers in the world agree,’ he said, ‘and that should tell you something.’

Following his initial contribution, audience members were shown a recorded interview of Dr Tess Lawrie, an obstetrician also based in South Africa, who was interviewed by Dr Scott Mitchell, who works at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital emergency department.

Their discussion focussed on the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin, a generic drug which is primarily used around the world to treat animals,but which is sometimes prescribed for human use to treat head lice and scabies.

Drs Lawrie and Mitchell have co-authored a meta-analysis of medical trials investigating the efficacy of the drug against Covid.

They argued it should be used alongside vitamin and mineral supplements to boost the immune system.

Guernsey’s Health and Social Care President Al Brouard was asked by Deputy Chris Blin in the States earlier this month whether Guernsey would look at introducing the drug for Covid treatment. Deputy Brouard said Guernsey would continue to follow advice from the World Health Organisation, which did not recommend it.

Another recorded presentation followed, from Ros Nealon-Cook, a psychologist based in Australia.

This focused on the mental health effects of lockdowns, on children in particular.

It was cut short due to audio problems and the evening finished with a question and answer session with Mr Hudson.

In June, South Africa’s Free Market Foundation bestowed an award on Mr Hudson’s group Panda, for its work championing freedom. However, critics in the country have questioned the reliability of the science he has used to back up his arguments and have claimed Panda has links to Cambridge Analytica, the controversial data-firm accused of generating disinformation to support the Donald Trump presidential campaign in the US and the Brexit campaign in the UK.

South African media commentators have suggested the effects of lockdown have been prolonged by vaccine hesitancy, which has, they claim, been exacerbated by Panda’s work.