The far-right's dangerous crusade against the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines has exacerbated vaccine hesitancy across the nation, despite the vaccines' proven safety and effectiveness at minimizing the spread of the virus that's killed over 750 thousand Americans.
Republican elected officials across the country have fought against multiple measures to encourage vaccinations, however innocuous. Republican Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida took executive steps to ban vaccine mandates in their state. Far-right Congresswoman and prominent conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has repeatedly spread disinformation suggesting the vaccines are dangerous. The Biden administration's efforts to recruit volunteers who go door to door in their communities with vaccine information have been painted as a federal overreach on par with the Nazis.
And on Thursday, the Speaker of Tennessee's House of Representatives—Cameron Sexton—condemned the Biden administration for "destroying America" in part due to "mass vaccinations."
Some thought it would take @POTUS four years to destroy America. Instead, he\u2019s done it in just 10 months - strengthened our enemies, porous borders, skyrocketing inflation, huge spending, massive debt, giant tax increases, & mass vaccinations! #BidensNewAmerica— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@Speaker Cameron Sexton) 1636058762
In case it wasn't clear, the mass administering of safe and effective vaccines against the deadliest pandemic in American history is not a bad thing. Mass worldwide vaccinations would give individuals herd immunity, when the virus doesn't have enough vulnerable host to spread and further develop into deadlier, more vaccine resistant variants.
People were amazed at Sexton's tweet.
Putting words on Twitter does not magically make things true. #octoberjobsreportgood #VaccinesWork #parentalleave #tn40inhealthcare #tn33ineducation— Holly Kelly (@Holly Kelly) 1636120244
Thank God people are getting vaccinated. \n\nWhy do you love COVID so much?— Patricia Prokop (@Patricia Prokop) 1636109960
It takes guts to be pro pandemic as a politician, I\u2019ll give you that— Demon Possessed Crack Smoker (@Demon Possessed Crack Smoker) 1636099687
Wait. What's wrong with the mass vaccinations part?— Gregory Hazelwood (@Gregory Hazelwood) 1636059147
Mass vaccinations are the issue?— Jake World Series Champs Plunk (@Jake World Series Champs Plunk) 1636085987
Misinformation. Reported. Look to the former guy for ignoring a pandemic— stophorseslaughter (@stophorseslaughter) 1636119730
And it wasn't just Sexton's aversion to vaccinations that raised eyebrows.
Aside from the ridiculous vaccine part, pretty sure the supply side inflation has way more to do with all our jobs being parsed outside the US FOR DECADES by the greediest in government & those you like giving tax breaks to.— Tammy Cantu (@Tammy Cantu) 1636113965
The US added 531,000 jobs in October. We are in an economic recovery. Chew on that.— PB3701 (@PB3701) 1636116024
Talka bout huge spending and massive debt - that's what Trump left for us to pay off.— toliver (@toliver) 1636060800
Sexton has yet to elaborate.
