RE: I agree, he is not responsible for what others say.
Well, then there’s no reason to bring up what others say that Rand Paul did not. He is NOT responsible for people misquoting or misunderstanding him.
RE: However, he is doing nothing to stem the flow of antivax/antiscience conspiracies and rhetoric. Someone with his educational background—he holds an MD degree and specialized in ophthalmology) should know better. On the contrary, he keeps adding fuel to the conspiracy fire.
Hang on. I’m not sure Rand Paul is a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the Covid vaccine. He is again, responsible ONLY for what he says, not for what others are saying he says.
More than anything else, Senator Paul is a LIBERTARIAN and against government interference in our individual lives. My read on his vaccine stance are as follows:
* Vaccine Hesitancy: Senator Paul has expressed concerns about COVID-19 vaccine mandates and has generally advocated for individual choice and personal freedom. He has questioned the need for vaccine mandates and often emphasized the importance of personal medical autonomy. He cites the cases of Joe and Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, etc. Who were ALL vaccinated and boosted more than once, but who were ALL infected anyway despite these as reasons to stop forcing people to take the shot and coerce them at the risk of losing their livelihood. What’s the point of forcing people to vaccinate when it does not prevent infection ( and of course, transmission) anyway?
* Skepticism About Vaccine Mandates: Senator Paul has been critical of vaccine mandates imposed by governments and private entities. He has argued that vaccine mandates infringe on personal liberties and that individuals should have the right to make their own healthcare decisions.
He also cites the fact that these current Covid vaccines have not been thoroughly evaluated.
For instance, he shows that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was suspended in Europe in April 2021 due to concerns about a rare blood clot side effect. However, it was reinstated a month later. But then in December of the same year, the EMA recommended that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine be used only as a second dose for people who have already received a different COVID-19 vaccine. This recommendation was made due to concerns about the risk of blood clots in people who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as their first dose.
He also cites news that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was suspended in Sweden, Norway, and Finland in October 2021 for people under 30 due to concerns about a rare side effect called myocarditis. The Moderna vaccine was reinstated in Sweden and Finland in November 2021 for people under 30, but it is still suspended in Norway. See here:
and here:
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health continues to monitor the data and has not yet decided when to reinstate the vaccine.
With such an on and off record, it isn’t a good idea by his lights to FORCE people into vaccinating until safety issues of these mRNA vaccines have been throughly researched like other traditional vaccines have been.
He cites the examples of The hepatitis B vaccine, which was tested for about 8 years before being approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1981. The vaccine was tested in a variety of clinical trials, including trials in infants, children, adults, and people with chronic liver disease. The trials showed that the vaccine was safe and effective in preventing hepatitis B infection.
The hepatitis A vaccine was approved by the FDA in 1995. It was tested for about 10 years before being approved. The trials showed that the vaccine was safe and effective in preventing hepatitis A infection in children and adults.
He wants SIMILAR time frames for testing these Covid vaccines.
* Promoting Vaccination: While expressing concerns about mandates, Senator Paul has also encouraged people, especially the elderly and those with serious conditions to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He has noted that he received the vaccine himself and believes in the importance of vaccines for public health.
It is NOT fair to call him a promoter of conspiracy theories.
Everyone, who goes against FRAUDci and the $hots, is a conspiracy theorist to that plant.