blog #2

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.

Combined image of a veterinarian inspecting a horse, and a doctor inspecting a patient.

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.

 

 

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