Mike Parson and Bill Lee Join a Long List of Republicans Whose Conspiracy Theories and Anti-Vaccine Rhetoric Are Contributing to Vaccine Hesitancy and COVID Case Spikes
As COVID-19 cases spike in states with low vaccination rates, Republican governors are making matters worse. In Missouri, hospitalizations are at a level not seen since the winter peak, but Governor Mike Parson (R-MO) cautioned health care leaders against trying to “scare” people into getting vaccinated, arguing the state is “not in crisis mode.” And in Tennessee, the state vaccine coordinator was fired because she was simply encouraging young people to get vaccinated. The Tennessee Department of Health also halted all vaccine outreach to teenagers — not just for COVID-19 — amid pressure from Republican lawmakers. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Mike Parson and Bill Lee are working overtime to fuel vaccine hesitancy and get their constituents sick. After more than a year of this pandemic, Republicans just can’t seem to get enough, so they are prolonging this crisis. It’s not a coincidence that cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in the states led by Republicans. It’s time for these governors to put an end to their dangerous rhetoric and urge their residents to get vaccinated before it’s too late.”