Oregon National Guard soldier receiving COVID vaccine
On Monday, President Joe Biden‘s White House COVID-19 Data Director, Dr. Cyrus Shapar, reported that the United States had reached a long-sought milestone in vaccinations:
Milestone Monday just in: Today we hit 70% of adults w/ at least one dose! +468K doses reported administered, incl. 320K newly vaccinated (vs. 257K last Monday). 7-day average of newly vaccinated highest since July 4. Let's continue working to get more eligible vaccinated! 🇺🇸
— Dr. Cyrus Shahpar (@cyrusshahpar46) August 2, 2021
Perhaps not surprisingly, however, red states have been of little or no help in reaching this COVID vaccination milestone:
We have managed hit the 70 percent national average and with not one state carried by Donald Trump has reaching it -really says it all at this point. Keep plugging away and making progress I guess …
— Richard Sharpe (@Sharpe222) August 2, 2021
Nevertheless, despite the efforts of many Republicans, including those on Fox “News,” to raise doubts about and opposition to COVID vaccines and other precautions such as mask-wearing, things are starting to change. If these Republicans are waging a very sick war that keeps COVID alive and kills many Americans, it appears they are losing allies.
First, large corporations, including Walmart (which has a reputation as Republican-leaning), Target, Tyson Foods and Publix, following the latest guidance of the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), are returning to mask requirements for their employees to one degree or another, meaning such requirements will apply at least in COVID hot spots. Likewise, these and other companies are “strongly recommending” that their customers wear masks, and McDonald’s just announced that it will require all in-store customers and employees to wear masks. Other organizations, such as universities and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, similarly are adding more vaccination, masking or other requirements at this time.
Second, there have been efforts by President Biden, members of his administration, Democratic lawmakers, and influencers from Hillary Clinton to Ariana Grande to encourage COVID vaccinations and mask-wearing. For instance, here’s a tweet by Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu:
Pleased to see more Americans are deciding to get vaccinated. If you are vaccine hesitant because you don’t trust the govt, these vaccines are not made by the govt. If you don’t trust Pfizer, then ask yourself if you would put Advil or Robitussin in your body.#GetVaccinated https://t.co/U9juLykDjY
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 2, 2021
Third, the recent news about COVID cases, possibly due in large part to July 4 get-togethers and other careless behavior, has been terrifying. For example, Florida, which is responsible for some 20 percent of all new COVID cases, hit an all-time COVID hospitalization record on Sunday, with over 10,200 people hospitalized. This follows a record of over 21,000 new COVID cases in Florida just a day earlier. All of these factors likely have led to the U.S. finally reaching the 70 percent vaccine milestone.
All of these COVID-related developments, however, are despite the deadly incompetence (or worse, actual cheerleading against COVID precautions) of Republican officials such as Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis. As the above-linked reporting on the record number of new COVID cases in Florida indicates:
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has resisted mandatory mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and along with the state Legislature, has limited local officials’ ability to impose restrictions meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. DeSantis on Friday barred school districts from requiring students to wear masks when classes resume next month.
At least 17 other Republican-led states have moved to prohibit vaccine passports or to ban public entities from requiring proof of vaccination. Some have also prohibited schools from requiring any student or teacher to wear a mask or be vaccinated. And last week, dozens of U.S. House Republicans staged a protest against new mask-wearing requirements in the House chamber.
Such efforts by Republicans to stand in the way of battling COVID, however, are rapidly looking out of touch with the current reality, and way behind the curve of events. In the coming weeks and months, it may well be that the U.S. finally reaches the level of vaccinations and precautions needed to stop the nationwide spread of the Coronavirus, while simultaneously exposing many Republican officials, leaders and influencers as outliers for hindering these life-saving efforts.
Photo by Oregon National Guard, used under Creative Commons license. https://is.gd/znQ0g9
