Thread by @dr_dmorgan

As a vaccinated, liberal infectious disease doctor, who believes virtually all US adults should be vaccinated...

I'm bothered by people blaming the unvaccinated for the ongoing pandemic

There are a few reasons:

@sdbaral @VPrasadMDMPH

1) The unvaccinated are the biggest victims--99% of COVID deaths are unvaccinated

They put themselves at the most risk--much more than they harm me

We don't punish IVDU or prostitutes for the HIV epidemic although they spread an infectious agent

2) People not vaccinated are misinformed by the media, by celebrities and largely because of the failure of the deeply unequal US Education System that set them up to not know how to navigate these confusing times and evaluate information

3) Blaming is punching down. Groups less vaccinated are more likely to be of color and poor (the winners in this take care of yourself economy are savvy enough to choose vaccination)

(i'm all for criticizing leaders who promote misinformation--the Jenny McCarthy's on the left and Fox News on the right--who get a gold star for hypocrisy with their reasonable pro-vaccine work policies thehill.com/media/568673-f… )

4) healthcare workers complaining, I get you, but I'm an Infectious disease MD, seeing COVID patients, & busy days are nothing new.
As infection control director, COVID is a headache w/ freq. policy changes & re-education.
But 1/2 problem is nat'l leadership not being pragmatic

5) Blaming doesn't work
Blaming unvaccinated pushes them further into their isolation. I want more people vaccinated so I talk w/ them.
Hear their reasoning, share mine.
Show I respect them and rec. vaccination mostly because I don't want them to get sick or die

6) if blaming unvaxx for US policy decisions...grow up. We don't have to react to numbers one way or another.
The country is opening--people are making that decision.
People are vaxx'd or not.
If leaders can be aware of where the people are we could have reasonable approaches.

7) by blaming a group we are further tribalizing our broken country--and that is the biggest reason for our failures during the pandemic.
If we want to re-build and be able to handle the next challenge we have to find some mutual respect and understanding

There was a comment about being a liberal = not believing in natural immunity.
I believe in natural immunity--but just that it is risky to get the real COVID when a great vaccine is available for your first experience w/ this virus