By : Nick Moisides Chieftain Staff

COVID-19 cases started to spike again in mid-August throughout the country .

Thanks to relaxed requirements over the summer and the delta variant , there was a resurgance of cases that are now showing signs of slowing . Most of the infections were seen in poverty-stricken areas in Florida , Texas , and California . According to the CDC , poorer US counties have less access to vaccines . As of October , 57 % of the US population are fully vaccinated .

The other 43 % of the US population may question the vaccine ’ s effectiveness , as well as , the manufactor ’ s quick turnaround time . turn around time . Misinformation about COVID symptoms and sign effects have spread via social media .

At this point , Pfizer-BioNTech has the only FDA-approved vaccine over the age 11 . Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authoried by the FDA for emergency use in individual 18 years of age and older . Recently , the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now approved by the FDA for school-age children 5-11 .

Since late August , COVID cases in children peaked at 250,000 per week according to the Red Cross . Delta is the predominate variant in the United States . It is more infectious and has higher transmissiblity

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when compared to other variants , even in some vaccinated people according to the CDC . While the virus is still more deadly in adults , there is now a greater concern for children since Delta is 50 % more contagious than the alpha variant .

The latest variant can still infect those fully vaccinated putting all at risk , especially those unvaccinated .

Those who fear the virus but refuse to receive a COVID vaccine have been seeking alternatives . Many unorthodox treatments have come to light such as , like ivermectin , an animal dewormer and parasite remover . Many pet supplies stores have put up warnings to discouage customers from using this unapproved animal medicine to treat COVID-19 . Because of this rush to buy these types of medicines , there is now a lack of supply for animals that need

them for heart worm and parasitic infections . Ivermectin can cause skin rashes and liver damage if used excessively by people , according to the FDA ,

“ Any use of ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 should be avoided as its benefits and safety for these purposes have not been established .”

Brazil has using invermectin as a main COVID-19 combatant since before the vaccines were developed . Jair Bolsonaro , the President of Brazil , has been advocating the use of ivermectin to the lower class because of its affordability . The drug was included in Brazil ’ s “ COVID Kit ” recommended by the government and includes various vitamins and a malaria pill . The kit ’ s affordability allowed the elderly and those with underlying health conditions access but with little or no improvement in COVID symptoms .

According Paulo Bittencourt , President of the Brazilian Liver Institute of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology , “ 27 % of acute liver damage in Brazilians may be caused by the indiscriminate use of vermifuge ivermectin .”

Dr . Ana Carolina Antonio , who works

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Evan Vucci