John Stockton enjoys revered status in Utah. His nineteen years as point guard for the Jazz creates palpitations for many, including me. Still, as an anti-vaxxer — with team Robert Kennedy Jr. — he achieves special prominence as a false prophet.
A lawsuit claims Stockton’s First Amendment rights have been damaged as he attacks the Washington State attorney general in the name of two doctor anti-vaxxers. Stockton says they were unable to counter policies of the 60 physicians on the Washington Medical Commission promoting vaccinations against Covid, claiming Stockton can’t “hear the public soapbox speech of Washington licensed physicians who disagree with the mainstream Covid narrative.” (The Tribune, March 12)
I’m a critic of Stockton and Kennedy’s lawsuit. The purpose of public health is to protect the public against disease. Vaccines are part of the effort. Dr. Anthony Fauci became a scapegoat of the likes of Stockton, Kennedy, Rand Paul and former President Trump; Kennedy and Rand Paul wrote books attacking Fauci. Scare tactics against vaccinations sadly are effective. These political scaremongers spotlighted the minimal risk of allergic reactions, not mentioning the serious pulmonary and systemic illness caused by Covid. Cost-benefit analysis of risk suggests danger to the vaccine is a mole hill; danger to Covid disease is a mountain.
What is the reason for this disinformation? Undoubtedly, ideological fear plays a role — anti-science, if you will, generated by fear from cultural/religious forces. I, sadly, understand that fear; but it is unjustified fear. Additionally, economic losses due to public mandates prevent public gatherings, causing loss of money and closing of many businesses. That’s a key focus by Trumpian conservatives.
Pandemics disrupt and kill. Stockton and Kennedy can’t stop that. Is economic loss more valuable than the loss of human life? Their distorted mindset producing disinformation has prevented vaccinations and killed people. Anthony Fauci and medicine have become a target as are other less visible members of preventive medicine and infectious disease establishment.
However Stockton’s lawsuit goes, for me, it is a sad example of fantasy and fabulist thinking over medicine’s valid effort to keep citizens safe.
Richard H. Keller, Salt Lake City
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