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Zorro

(15,691 posts)
Mon Nov 29, 2021, 11:26 AM Nov 2021

New covid variant. Same Republican denialism.

As the omicron coronavirus variant spreads around the world, it’s worth remembering that its existence is a reminder of the importance of high vaccination rates. The omicron variant was first detected in southern Africa, which has been woefully under-vaccinated thanks to the failure of wealthier nations to deliver sufficient supplies of vaccines. If only Republican lawmakers, after more than 777,000 deaths in the United States and the overwhelming success of vaccines for millions of Americans, would finally stop undercutting mandates and other policies to boost vaccination rates here at home. That would be a foolish hope.

On Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Features,” for example, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) pointed to recent declines in covid-19 cases and deaths in Florida as a victory for “natural” immunity. “In some studies that I have read,” she said, “natural immunity gives you 27 times more protection against future covid infection than a vaccination. And so we need to take all of the science into account and not selectively choosing what science to follow when we are making policy decisions.”

Mace is likely referring to one Israeli study (not “studies”), which did indeed find what she claimed. But speaking of “selectively choosing what science to follow,” Mace didn’t mention that other studies have found the opposite. More broadly, pitting natural immunity against vaccination is itself misleading Americans. As The Post recently reported, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention review of more than 90 studies and papers found that “for people who have been infected … vaccination provides a boost in the immune response and further reduces the risk of a repeat infection.” To imply that people should become infected rather than getting a shot is dangerous — especially when the former comes with a massive death toll.

Over on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) similarly played with the gray area of natural immunity. “We have 1.6 million Mississippians that have been vaccinated. That’s not enough,” he admitted. “But in talking to our state health officers, we believe that somewhere between 80 to 85 percent of Mississippians have some level of immunity, either natural immunity or immunity from having taken the shots.”

So why not support vaccine mandates to boost that natural immunity and help those who don’t have it? Reeves argued that the president’s effort has backfired, “hardening those individuals who were not interested in getting vaccinated.” It’s true that one’s vaccination status heavily correlates with their political views. But by his own logic, a united, bipartisan front in favor of mandates would go a long way toward softening that resistance. Instead, Reeves is silent.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/28/new-covid-variant-same-republican-denialism/

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New covid variant. Same Republican denialism. (Original Post) Zorro Nov 2021 OP
We can no longer deny that Republicans and actors such as Fox News are working 24/7 to spread ... Botany Nov 2021 #1

Botany

(70,291 posts)
1. We can no longer deny that Republicans and actors such as Fox News are working 24/7 to spread ...
Mon Nov 29, 2021, 11:38 AM
Nov 2021

... the virus for political and Machiavellian reasons. Chaos theory, outright lies, and so what if
1/2 a million Americans die because not giving President Biden a win is worth it.

"If only Republican lawmakers, after more than 777,000 deaths in the United States and the overwhelming success of vaccines for millions of Americans, would finally stop undercutting mandates and other policies to boost vaccination rates here at home. That would be a foolish hope."


BTW Gov. Tain't Reeves is dumber then a bucket of gravel.





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