Megan McArdle has an exceeding by clever – and of course “balanced” --column, linking CDC’s arguably mistaken decision on vaccine roll up with Republican ambiguity to vaccinations in general and Kennedy’s hostility.
Clever, but how correct?
First, WAS it a mistake to prioritize essential workers over the aged? The latter were more at risk but potentially less exposed to infection and the former were more exposed and their sickness would cause greater economic harm. Did notions of “equity” determine the decision? Not necessarily. And did a naïve perception (not fomented for political ends) of a CDC more concerned with equity than senior lives explain the difference in vaccine uptake between Red and Blue counties?
And was the George Floyd “lockdown exception” an exception. Don’t demonstrations normally take place outdoors in fresh air? And whatever the risk, shouldn’t people decide to accept it for what they think is a good cause?
But the misplaced cleverness of linking CDC actions, which we may even stipulate as mistaken, [Here are my criticisms of CDC https://thomaslhutcheson.substack.com/p/covid-policy-errors ]
with Republican Senators who voted to confirm Kennedy as Secretary of HHS is staggering. The example Mc Ardle cites of Senator Cassidy who spoke in defense of vaccines and then voted in favor of Kennedy is only the most egregious example.
“[Cassidy’s excuse was that Kennedy had promised that he was committed to vaccination … including to maintain ACIP [that advises on vaccination policy] ‘without changes.’”
Kennedy’s [wholesale replacement of the ACIP] were entirely predictable to anyone who has read his book “Vax-Unvax.” If Cassidy believed Kennedy’s assurances, he was a fool, and if he didn’t, he’s a disgrace to his office.”
My guess is that Cassidy is no fool. Vice signaling was more important.
Image Prompt: A doctor arriving with a vaccine being stopped by a bureaucrat. [This prompt was blocked by Microsoft. Unfair to Trump?]
Image prompt: Doctor with vaccination syringe looking unbelievingly at a “Stop” sign.
[Standard bleg: Although my style is know-it-all-ism, I am aware that I could be mistaken or overstate my points. I know there is an amazing range of talents and experience among readers. Bring that to bear by commenting on these posts.]
Nice post.
In the end, we each have to make decisions based on our preferred methodologies. I wouldn't advise people to hold a grudge against various bureaucrats and use that as the basis for their current decisions. During my life, we've been told that eating eggs was bad for you, and eating eggs was good for you. All we can do is look at the evidence and decide.
One small nit. My recollection is that the outside being safe wasn't yet the common wisdom by June 2020. And definitely not on the left. I remember being at Floyd protests and trying really hard to maintain our 4 feet distances.