Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) I'm trying to ignore the anti-vaxxer bullshit that is needlessly costing lives in the US as we speak.

But upon reading the words of Steve Scalise in this story I feel compelled to write again.

Elected Rs are really, really letting the US down.

nola.com/news/coronavir…

(2) In this thread I rebut each of the points Scalise tried to make about Covid vaccination in this story.

Recently I caught him redhanded concerning the not unrelated issue of Republican 1/6 denialism.

https://twitter.com/FreedomFriesInc/status/1414001829889773572

(3) And in that thread I also explain the golden opportunity Scalise had seven months ago to learn about Covid after a US Rep-Elect in his own state died from it. Luke Letlow's death was connected to a procedure ICU doctors were using to try to save him. He was 41 years old.

(4) The increased transmissibility of the Delta variant was reported publicly in March-April when it was in India, where it began.

A US Rep, let alone a Minority Whip, really has no excuse to claim he only learned of this in late July.

His voters will believe him, though.

(5) He said "it was a good time to do it."

Nope. A good time to get a Covid vaccine is when it first becomes available to you. For US Congressmen and women that was at the start, in Dec-Jan 2021.

(6) I support the vaccine prioritization of legislators in any country for several reasons. If they all die it is disruptive for the country's pandemic response. They can set a good (or bad) example. Those living in reality would refuse to enter the building for their own safety.

(6) The rate of unvaccinated Americans being hospitalized with Covid right now is closer to 99% than 90% (which Scalise claimed.)

Anyone can see that NOLA was hit harder in the first and second waves because certain at-risk groups are over-represented in the population there.

(7) I didn't need to wait for the Delta variant wave to see a "signal the vaccine works."

Anti-vaxxers aren't worried about vaccine efficacy. Their stated concern is safety. I am sure Scalise knows this.

(8) This excuse is pathetic. Scalise has available to him, & a duty to seek out, accurate basic medical info on how this particular virus & vaccine work.

No sane doctor is telling post-Covid pts they don't need the vax. CDC advice from Day 1 was to #GetVaccinated regardless.

(9) Scalise then took the opportunity of praising Trump for being in office when the pharma companies developed the vaccines. Then he confuses the EUA and standard processes for FDA approval. Which is a vital distinction to make for the public.

(10) I'm not thrilled about a vaccine that only has an EUA not a proper FDA approval but IMO the risk of long term unknown side effects is far outweighed by my desire to survive in the short term. It's a fucking pandemic. Different crisis, different rules. For me, anyway.

(11) The story concludes with the biggest heaving pile of strawman fallacy in history, already soaked in gas ready to light up as soon you've finished reading it.

Covid vaccination is voluntary.

As a member of the public, not as an employee of certain employers.

(12) I predict that Covid vaccination as a member of public in the US will remain voluntary.

Because every relevant federal official knows this is the only way to do it. Mandatory vaccination would backfire, driving decliners underground. It's not in the national interest.

(13) I do support trying to shame people into Covid vaccination, because that's not illegal, and if they are so convinced they are right and I am wrong, they can vote with their feet and walk away. IDC.

I speak for every >12yo and chemo patient in the US when I say this.

(14) As for Scalise's "it's their choice" ... well, Steve, it's not a choice for all of them. Just like it wasn't your choice to have to lay in a hospital bed for 5 months in 2017, enduring 7 surgeries and months of rehab.

Other people did things to help you, Steve.

(15) Not only is it a moral & ethical imperative for as many of us as possible to take a calculated risk here that will save the lives of innocent people, most of them children & the seriously ill; it will help the economy, which is the basis of everything in our modern world.

(16) It's hard to quantify what the economy and country would be like if there was an inadequate Covid vaccination rate - compared with an adequate one.

But it's not rocket science, is it.

The more hospitalizations, the more strain on an already worker-starved system.

(17) Healthcare workers of all kinds are under incredible strain after 19 months of this. And whatever happens, we will have at least 1-2 more years of it, as a world.

As the "America First" isolationists found on 12/7/1941, the USA cannot thrive unless it's allies do too.

(18) It is willfully ignorant to assume the US will be just fine despite the carnage being wrought by Covid in other countries.

Every country needs to do its best with what it has, and then carefully try to help others as and when it can.

(19) In short, getting vaccinated is in the interests of:

>the vax recipient
>their family esp. >12s
>their country

IMO, folk need to consider how their family will survive if they die in the next few months.

(20) In fact, there doesn't need to be a death for Covid to wreak havoc on your family members. There is #LongCovid - yes, it's a thing, and various other medical sequelae that can be life-defining.

Even the disruption of a short hospital stay can impact you and them.

(21) I suggest that if you're concerned about a family member who refuses to get a vaccine, ask them to help you out by writing down all their passwords, and either adding you on to bank accounts etc, or getting a Will & papers that enable you to tie up their affairs more easily.

(22) And note to them you might have several people's Wills to deal with so if they could make it as simple as possible, that would be great.

Just like when a hurricane-affected county sheriff says before the storm arrives: Write your name on your arm to aid identification.

(23) Source information, questions answered, and where to get a vax where you live:

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…