Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and other right-wing critics called MSNBC medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta, after informing them that even after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, they should wear masks and avoid traveling until summer.
“Just because you get vaccinated with that second dose doesn’t mean you have to get involved in things like traveling in the middle of an out-of-control pandemic or getting rid of masks,” he said. until we all get the two-dose regimen. We don’t think this will happen until June, July.
“Don’t we know if just getting vaccinated prevents serious illness or also prevents you from being completely infected?” Gupta continued, “meaning you can still get infected with the virus and pass it on to other people … Don’t leave the guard just because you’ve been vaccinated.”
The clip, which was originally tagged by Grabien founder Tom Elliott, garnered several responses, and Cruz demonstrated it as “a bizarre, lunatic, and totalitarian cult.”
“It’s not about vaccines or protecting people’s lives,” the Texas Republican added, “but it’s deeply anti-science and only focuses on absolute control of every aspect of our lives.”
It is a bizarre, lunatic and totalitarian cult.
It is not about vaccines or protecting people’s lives, but it is deeply anti-science and only focuses on absolute control of all aspects of our lives. https://t.co/ORSgtJoGLZ
– Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 16, 2020
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) shared a similar sentiment.
First of all, he was not wearing a mask.
Then the spread was slow.
Then, everything was blocked.
At the time, he was wearing a mask.
Then the vaccine was expected.
Now that we have the vaccine, they tell us it won’t stop.
Freedom! https://t.co/Vglm8FlDaL
– Representative Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) December 15, 2020
The associate editor of the comment, Noah Rothman, predicted that the message “will pass like a cold soufflé and everyone will pretend it was never said.”
This will happen like a cold soufflé and everyone will pretend it was never said. https://t.co/sg5GapizEQ
– Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) December 15, 2020
“Next to anyone, at least those who don’t have comorbidities or loved ones at risk, will get two shots of the vaccine and behave as if it were still 2020,” Rothman later said. “If your public messaging strategy is to insist that people who have received two boosts should still distance themselves, wear masks, and avoid social compromises, your messaging strategy is silly.”
Others were baffled by the advice and wondered if the vaccine was effective.
The goal of the vaccine is supposed to be to return to normal. https://t.co/QdkI72y25L
– Dr. David Samadi, MD (@drdavidsamadi) December 16, 2020
Do vaccines work or not? https://t.co/71wZTrNqHE
– Dr. Ian Miles Cheong, D. Litt. (@stillgray) December 16, 2020
Gupta responded that even after receiving the second dose of the vaccine, he will continue to follow all health precautions “until Dr. Fauci says otherwise.”
Tomorrow I have the vaccine and I am grateful to the scientists who worked to make that day pass
After the 2nd dose 21 days later, I will continue to mask, distance myself, and avoid traveling, until Dr. Fauci says otherwise.
Be alert, ignore the noise, normalcy is ahead.
– Vin Gupta “??!” MD (@VinGuptaMD) December 15, 2020