COVID-19 vaccine , CD3 DFL

The Most Influential Spreader of Coronavirus Misinformation Online

Researchers and regulators say Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician, creates and profits from misleading claims about Covid-19 vaccines.

SAN FRANCISCO — The article that appeared online on Feb. 9 began with a seemingly innocuous question about the legal definition of vaccines. Then over its next 3,400 words, it declared coronavirus vaccines were “a medical fraud” and said the injections did not prevent infections, provide immunity or stop transmission of the disease.

Instead, the article claimed, the shots “alter your genetic coding, turning you into a viral protein factory that has no off-switch.”

Its assertions were easily disprovable. No matter. Over the next few hours, the article was translated from English into Spanish and Polish. It appeared on dozens of blogs and was picked up by anti-vaccination activists, who repeated the false claims online. The article also made its way to Facebook, where it reached 400,000 people, according to data from CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned tool. Continue reading.

As Virus Resurges, G.O.P. Lawmakers Allow Vaccine Skepticism to Flourish

As the coronavirus’s Delta variant rips through conservative communities, most Republicans remain reluctant to confront vaccine misinformation and skepticism in their midst.

WASHINGTON — As the coronavirus surges in their states and districts, fanned by a more contagious variant exploiting paltry vaccination rates, many congressional Republicans have declined to push back against vaccine skeptics in their party who are sowing mistrust about the shots’ safety and effectiveness.

Amid a widening partisan divide over coronavirus vaccination, most Republicans have either stoked or ignored the flood of misinformation reaching their constituents and instead focused their message about the vaccine on disparaging President Biden, characterizing his drive to inoculate Americans as politically motivated and heavy-handed.

On Tuesday, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 House Republican who said he had received his first Pfizer vaccine shot only on Sunday, blamed the hesitance on Mr. Biden and his criticism of Donald J. Trump’s vaccine drive last year. Senator Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama, said skeptics would not get their shots until “this administration acknowledges the efforts of the last one.” Continue reading.

Ex-Fox News Reporter Rips Tucker Carlson: ‘Leading Lemmings To Their Own Slaughter’

Ex-Fox News Reporter Rips Tucker Carlson: ‘Leading Lemmings To Their Own Slaughter’

Former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron on Monday called out Tucker Carlson’s doubtful diatribes against COVID-19 vaccines, saying his ex-colleague at the conservative network was “gaslighting” viewers for ratings and revenue.

“It’s about ratings and ratings ultimately become revenue, and that’s the name of the game,” Cameron told CNN’s “New Day” about personalities on Fox and other hyperpartisan media outlets that have questioned the shots. Vaccine resistance has now become a GOP rallying cry, even though the shots have been shown safe and effective.

“Whoever gets the most clicks on social media, makes the most money, gets the most fame, gets the most attention and that type of activity is not journalism,” Cameron continued. “It’s not news. It’s gaslighting. It’s propaganda.” Continue reading.

This mother thought COVID-19 was ‘was just like the flu’ – now her unvaccinated teenage daughter is struggling to survive

A vaccine-skeptical Arkansas mother is begging other parents not to make the same mistake as she.

Angela Morris decided against vaccinations for herself and her 13-year-old daughter because she doubted the severity of the coronavirus, but she’s learning a hard lesson now that her child has been hospitalized with an infection, reported KTHV-TV.

“I just had a false sense of security that it was just like the flu and it wasn’t that serious,” Morris said. “Obviously, it is that serious and it was that serious — now I can see.” Continue reading.

Steve Schmidt rains hell on the ‘moral rot’ of Fox News and Rupert Murdoch for vaccine lies

In a series of tweets posted early Friday morning, former Republican Party campaign consultant Steve Schmidt pointed an accusing finger at Fox News, various personalities on the conservative network and media mogul Rupert Murdoch for being responsible for thousands of deaths from COVID-19 and claimed they have “blood on their hands.”

Reacting to a report that Fox News star Tucker Carlson laughed off questions over whether he has been vaccinated despite his nightly questioning of whether vaccines are needed, Schmidt — who ran former Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign against Barack Obama — fired off a volley of attacks that ended with him calling Fox News “one of the singularly most corrupt institutions that has ever existed in the history of the United States.”

Tagging Carlson and Fox News colleague Laura Ingraham in this his first tweet, Schmidt pointed out that they and their families have been vaccinated while encouraging their viewers to avoid in the name of freedom. Continue reading.

Anti-vaxx nurse dies from COVID-19 in Louisiana

A Louisiana nurse who questioned the safety of vaccines has died of complications from COVID-19.

Olivia Guidry, a registered nurse in the emergency department at Ochsner Lafayette General, died Saturday after being hospitalized for the coronavirus in the intensive care unit, reported The Advocate.

“Today is a sad day for my ER family and I,” her colleague Nick Berthelot postedon Facebook. “Your contagious laugh and smile will truly be missed Liv. Until we meet again sweet girl.” Continue reading.

Pfizer to seek FDA authorization for booster of COVID-19 vaccine

Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday that they plan to seek authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine, saying it would provide even stronger protection.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the companies said they have seen “encouraging data” from an ongoing trial of the booster shot, adding that it provides levels of neutralizing antibodies five to 10 times higher, when administered six months after the second dose. The companies plan to submit data “in the coming weeks.”

It will be up to U.S. regulators — the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — whether to recommend a third dose. Continue reading.

DFL DeBrief: The Anti-Vax Quack Running for Governor

Dr. Scott Jensen is a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota and a total quack. The crew discusses Jensen’s candidacy, the efforts by Republicans in St. Paul to delay passage of a budget bill, and the future of voting rights legislation in Washington D.C.

Listen here: https://dfldebrief.buzzsprout.com/1789166/8762584-the-anti-vax-quack-running-for-mn-governor

If you like the show, be sure to tell your friends and rate and review on Apple Podcasts! You can submit trivia answers or any feedback you have to podcast@dfl.org.

Articles referenced this week:

Meet the influencers making millions by dealing doubt about the coronavirus vaccines.

Heather Simpson never thought to question vaccines. Her parents vaccinated her when she was a child, and she got tetanus and flu shots as an adult.

But when she and her husband were thinking about starting a family, she saw an ad for the documentary series “The Truth about Vaccines,” and “fear crept in,” she later wrote.

Simpson paid about $200 for the series, which taught her the tenets of vaccine skepticism. Continue reading.

Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan Update: June 4, 2021

‘Your Shot to Summer’ Rewards Request Form Opens

‘Your Shot to Summer!’ campaign rewards you for getting your shot, protecting yourself, and kicking off summer the right way.

This week, Governor Walz announced the rewards request form for the ‘Your Shot to Summer’ vaccine incentive campaign is now open for submissions at mn.gov/covid19/summer. Minnesotans 12 years of age and older who have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccine dose since May 27, 2021 are eligible to fill out the request form and choose their preferred vaccine reward.

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