New York Protects COVID Vaccine Access

New COVID vaccines have only been approved for those over 65 and people with certain health conditions. The linked NPR article has this bit about the Secretary of HHS:

The moves are the latest in a series of steps Kennedy, a long-time and vocal critic of vaccines, has taken to curtail development and availability of vaccines. He's downplayed the risks of infectious diseases, falsely claimed vaccines are risky, canceled hundreds of millions of dollars of research to develop new mRNA vaccines to protect against future pandemics, replaced a key federal advisory committee with like-minded skeptics, and has threatened to overhaul protections for vaccine makers.

I am reminded of the Stolen Valor Act Case that noted "Lying was his habit." Lying and being a self-righteous asshole is Kennedy's asshole. 

Like Susan Collins, it is somewhat unfair to focus on his voice, which he can't help [the tan is a bit different], but an annoying voice is harder to take when the person is annoying overall.  

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued to lie, quite combatively (repeatedly interrupting female senators; to be fair, he was a general asshole from what I can tell), in a recent Senate hearing. The chair, upon request from the ranking Democrat (who cited previous lying), rejected swearing him in. Still, perjury or no, it's illegal to lie to Congress. 

[His lies are so blatant that repeatedly, including in news interviews, there is clear evidence of him saying the opposite of what he now claims to be true.]

Criticism is welcomed -- at some point, Trump very well might decide he is not worth the bother -- but it is a bit hard to take when every single Republican except McConnell (hard to take for other reasons) voted for him. There is a closing the barn door a bit late feel to all of this.  

(Multiple Republican senators who voted for this public health menace are doctors.)

Multiple blue states are starting to provide alternatives to protect public health. Florida has gone the other way with references to vaccines for schoolchildren as akin to slavery. A reminder that a segment of children, for health reasons, cannot take vaccines, relying on herd immunity.  

Gov. Hochul (New York) handed down an executive order allowing pharmacists to prescribe vaccines confirmed by the state Commission of Health and provide them upon a doctor's prescription. The executive order is only for a month, to give the state legislature power to act. 

People can take the new COVID shot with their autumn flu shot. October is a good time to get a flu shot. I have begun to get them over the last few years. So, the executive order alone might not be enough unless it is extended. 

I rely on my doctor and experts to determine what vaccines to take. My doctor, in a recent appointment, told me I was due for a pneumonia vaccine. So, I had it. My arm was somewhat sore for a few days, but overall it was painless. 

There is no general reason to trust RFK Jr. with our health or the people now in control. That is dangerous. Public health should not be something that depends on politics. Surely not at this level. 

Experts overall counsel people to take the COVID vaccine. Again, I am not going to second-guess these people. I am not going to play doctor. 

I am not a doctor. Doctors in the Senate berated RFK Jr. Plus, there are a variety of reasons not to trust him. He is also not a doctor or any sort of actual expert on public health.

Tragically, we have to rely on the states to serve as a backup. Florida is so bad that Trump is wary. Why wouldn't he? Trump has no personal reason to distrust vaccines. 

He chose Kennedy for political reasons. He opposes things like mask mandates for political reasons. He is not some vaccine skeptic. It is not like racism or sexism for him. Still, half a clap at best:

“Look, you have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used, otherwise some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people,” Trump added. “And when you don’t have controversy at all, I think people should take it.”

This is typical vaccine skeptic talk. Some vaccines are "controversial" and only the non-controversial ones "should be used." That also leaves open opposition to vaccine requirements. We should eat healthily too. There are no mandates for healthy eating. 

There are multiple options to determine the worst choice among Trump's Cabinet. Secretary of Defense (yeah, still is) is high up there. HHS, however, very well might be the most dangerous. The threat to our health is deadly.  

For now, there are multiple ways to provide some oversight and answer lies. The courts continue to be filled with lawsuits against the Administration's illegal actions. Public hearings also provide benefits.

People are cynical about the value of these hearings. They are not panaceas. They do provide some value, including demands for answers and access.