Introduction

In September of 2021, a celebrity named Joe Rogan tested positive for covid 19. Joe Rogan is the host of a top-rated podcast, and you can say he has a considerable following. When Joe Rogan tested positive for covid, he went on his social media and posted a video of all the supplements he took to cure the virus. After just a couple of days, he had fully recovered from covid. One supplement he says helped him heal covid is called Ivermectin. He received much criticism from this video.

Ivermectin is a medication used for livestock. Animals take this medication to help prevent heartworm disease and parasites. Many sources like “WebMD” state that “some of the inactive ingredients in an Ivermectin medication might not be safe for people.” The Washington Post states, “Animal products are not tested in humans,” Perkins said. Misusing medicine intended for large animals, such as horses and cattle, could cause serious side effects. “You may put yourself in a worse situation than you were otherwise.” These quotes explain that there is no reason to strictly take Invemectin to cure Covid because there is no evidence behind it.

Annotated bibliography sources

Tamkins, Theresa. “If You Take Ivermectin for Covid, Here’s What Happens to Your Body.” BuzzFeed News, BuzzFeed News, 13 Oct. 2021, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/theresatamkins/ivermectin-for-covid-side-effects. 

  This article by BuzzFeed News argues that you should not use Ivermectin. It explains that the side effects can be hallucinations, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and many more. Ivermectin is not meant to treat covid, and that there are safer alternatives to take to help cure covid. 

Cohen, Joshua. “Ivermectin, a 40-Year-Old Anti-Parasitic Now Embedded in a COVID-19 Culture War.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 30 Aug. 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/08/29/ivermectin-a-40-year-old-anti-parasitic-now-embedded-in-a-covid-19-culture-war/?sh=57b892d1ce09. 

This article by Forbes Magazine implies that ivermectin is used to prevent heart Worm disease in animals. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic that should not be used to deal with covid. This article explains that there is no evidence or data that ivermectin can be used against covid-19. 

“Rapid Increase in Ivermectin Prescriptions and Reports of Severe Illness Associated with Use of Products Containing Ivermectin to Prevent or Treat COVID-19 Health Alert Network Logo.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Aug. 2021, https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/2021/han00449.asp. 

This article by the CDC explains that Ivermectin is an FDA-approved drug to treat parasites. The CDC shows statistics showing that the use of Ivermectin has increased since the start of Covid-19. People need to be educated that Ivermectin is not FDA approved to be used for Covid. 

“Treatments for Covid-19.” Harvard Health, Harvard Medical School, 1 Oct. 2021, https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/treatments-for-covid-19.  

In this Article by Harvard medical school, shows that there are many ways you can treat covid by yourself. They also provide information about the medication you can safely take to help cure the virus. Monoclonal Antibodies are EUA by the FDA which mean they can be used to treat covid-19 for emergency use. 

Introduction

President Biden issued two executive orders requiring a Covid vaccination for contractors who work for the federal government and federal workers. Biden’s request ordering COVID-19 immunizations among all government laborers doesn’t apply to individuals from Congress, the administrative court framework, or their staff members. The executive branch falls under the line of the vaccine mandate. Biden’s plan states that companies with 100 or more employees have to mandate covid vaccines. According to Fox News, if a company does not comply with the rules, it can face fines of $14,000.

Industries like Health care, finance and insurance, education, and wholesale trade will all be affected by the vaccine mandate. Health care workers are the most prominent industries affected, with 15 million people. That is two-thirds of the workforce and more than 80 million Americans. People come to believe that this will have a positive effect on the economy. According to Goldman Sachs, As more people get the vaccine, this will reduce the spread of the virus, which will allow people to return to their jobs to work. The argument for the Bidens vaccine mandate is that many people believe that this violates individual rights and exceeds the president’s constitutional authority. This vaccine has been mandatory to take all of our lives. The argument is that there is no evidence of what the covid vaccine does to our long-term health.

Why this article can lead to Cognitive Bias

This article explains Joe Biden’s executive orders on the vaccine mandate. The article by CNN is called “Biden announces new vaccine mandates that could cover 100 million Americans.” Reading the title of this article can lead to Cognitive Biases because it can lead to you making a decision but misinterpreting the information.  

Anchoring Biases

Anchoring Biases are when you make a decision based on the first thing you read. The article explains that Biden’s plan states that companies with 100 or more employees mandate covid vaccines. This article can lead you to get the vaccine because you see the word mandate, but actually, the Vaccine mandate might not fall under the business you work in. 

Confirmation Biases

This bias describes how people seek out and favor information that supports their prior beliefs or values. In the case of Covid-19, folks susceptible to distrust vaccines are also set for info that confirms that distrust, compared to the news that supports vaccine advantages and safety. This confirmation bias will have adverse ripple effects if it afflicts leaders or voters in positions of influence.

More Cognitive Bias

Cognitive Bias can lead you to make a decision but you misinterpret the information. This article creates Cognitive Bias because the title of it is called, “Members of Congress and Their Staff Are Exempt From Biden’s Vaccine Mandate.” By reading the title of this article, you now believe that members of congress are now exempt from the vaccine mandate. USA Today did a fact check on this piece of information and this information is false. This article is false and will lead you to interpret false information.

https://create.piktochart.com/output/56088858-my-visual

Celebrities taking Animal Dewormer to treat Covid

In September of 2021, a celebrity named Joe Rogan tested positive for covid 19. Joe Rogan is the host of a top-rated podcast, and you can say he has a considerable following. When Joe Rogan tested positive for covid, he went on his social media and posted a video of all the supplements he took to cure the virus. After just a couple of days, he had fully recovered from covid. One supplement he says helped him heal covid is called Ivermectin. He received much criticism from this video.

What is ivermectin?

Ivermectin is a medication used for livestock. Animals take this medication to help prevent heartworm disease and parasites. Many sources like “WebMD” state that “some of the inactive ingredients in an Ivermectin medication might not be safe for people.” The Washington Post states, “Animal products are not tested in humans,” Perkins said. Misusing medicine intended for large animals, such as horses and cattle, could cause serious side effects. “You may put yourself in a worse situation than you were otherwise.” These quotes explain that there is no reason to strictly take Invemectin to cure Covid because there is no evidence behind it.

What is the FDA’s take on Invemectin? 

The title of the article that the FDA put on Ivermectin is “Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.” These are some key points that the FDA points outs”

• The FDA has not authorized or approved Ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals. Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice, and skin conditions like rosacea.
• Currently available data do not show Ivermectin is effective against COVID-19. Clinical trials assessing ivermectin tablets for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in people are ongoing.
• Taking large doses of Ivermectin is dangerous.
• If your health care provider writes you an ivermectin prescription, fill it through a legitimate source such as a pharmacy, and take it exactly as prescribed. 
• Never use medications intended for animals on yourself or other people. Animal ivermectin products are very different from those approved for humans. The use of animal ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in humans is dangerous. “All these points show that Ivermectin is not an affectable medicine to take to treat Covid-19.

The Band Wagon Effect

The Bandwagon effect is a behavior that you adapt based on what someone else is doing. Many people look up to celebrities and follow every decision they make. So as Joe Rogan Makes a video of how he is curring covid with Invemectin, many people that look up to Joe Rogan will watch this video and think it is safe to take Ivermectin. They will ask themselves this question, “If it’s safe for a celebrity to take, why can’t I take it?” AS the FDA says, there is no evidence of Ivermectin helping the cure of Covid. This is false information that Joe Rogan is spreading.