Respiratory therapists are not doctors. They tell you how to breathe how to use inhalers nebulizers cpap machines. They teach exercises. They cannot diagnose. What ever a therapist says is empirical and anecdotal and is only an opinion. If the person were truly a professional they would not take a side on the issue of vaccination based on personal experience.
Actually they draw ABGs, run them, dx them for a myriad of acidosis/alkalosis results and help troubleshoot vents.
They know Henderson hasselbach which has always been a rough one for me.
RTs are super sharp peeps.