My Thoughts on Antivaxxer “Arguments”

The loudest voice is rarely the most thoughtful (or correct). An anti-antivaxxer video in the style of most antivaxx videos- mostly void of specific evidence. Musings...from me.

[JennaLeigh]

I'm a bartender, and had a guy at my bar going ON AND ON (and on and on....) About how the vaccine is "slavery" and "I have the right to not wear a mask or get that damn shot!" And yes, he IS

Later in the evening while a football game was on, he went on a second tirade(at neither time was he asked for his thoughts, but I digress) about "athletes kneeling on HIS flag". He said "they disrespect my flag! I'd take a bullet for that flag!"(no, he's NOT a veteran)

So....after a solid hour of his loud, rude interruptions and rambling, I said You'll take a bullet for a flag, but you won't get a shot or wear a mask for those you love?" S I L E N C E

[cameronr]

A lot of the people im vaccinating now come into the pharmacy telling me how a family member died and they guess they should get it now. It's tough seeing people have this as their reason to be vaccinated

[domzim]

I wonder if its not about knowledge but more about trust. Most antivaxxers seem to be more filled with miss trust than ignorance. Mistrust of media and government. Just a thought.

[Anonymous-rprs]

The one that confuses me the most is the very American argument of "I'm not a sheep", there are people out there who won't want to prevent deaths just because they don't want to follow rules

[Katsandkatsandkats]

You’re fighting the good fight and the majority of people agree with you and support you. I worked in hospitals for 6 years and it wore me down how ignorant people could be. I hope you don’t ever lose sight of how appreciated you are. Please keep advocating for patient education and giving the best care you can. Oftentimes people’s minds aren’t going to change no matter how many facts you feed them, but show them kindness and human connection and that can and will change hearts and minds. ❤️

[hali]

I feel like the stupidity out there has really begun to wear Doc Schmidt down. He seems so much more tired and jaded 😅 keep going Doc, you re doing good work

[baspnglr]

I was in hospital recently with an abscess on my leg that nearly went septic (oops) and when I went to get my bandage changed on my second visit I was speaking to the nurse about the pandemic

She told me she initially hadn't believed it at all, that she thought it was being exaggerated.

Then the cases came in. So much that the hospital couldn't keep up with them, and one of her own family members died, she told me.

Please believe your doctors and those advocating for the vaccine.

Do it to protect your family, your friends, THEIR families, the grandma across the street, the homeless people in your community who's immune systems are almost definitely weakened from drug abuse and cold temperatures and the street.

If not for yourself, do it for all of us.

[bohegegaming]

Well here it goes. In all honesty, I used to be against the vaccine. Everything you said anti vaxxers were doing I was doing. I think my ex and her parents played a large role in the way I thought, idk I just believed what they were saying about it. After that ship sailed, I kinda realized that I sounded literally insane. Fully vaxxed now, and wish I would've done it sooner

[tommiegirl]

You look unspeakably tired when you discuss anti-vax arguments, Doc Schmidt. Hang in there.

[alys.]

Not only do leaders in the field of science say its safe, religious leaders from Judaism, Islam and the Catholic Pope have all condoned the vaccine, and urge their followers to get it.

[MrNylarhotep]

Im so glad my country basically forced me into getting the shot. And I guess its totally normal for a 29 year old with a strong immune system and only very slight cardio problems to suddenly get a resting heart rate of 122 shortly after my second shot.
Popping heart medication every morning really makes you feel young and well taken care off

[amyoung]

Love what you continue to do. Laughter and education 🥰

[mrsmak]

Anyone else here 2 years later wondering if his opinion has changed?

[rebeccadeets]

Whats horrible in my case is 1)I can't get the vaccine because of health reasons
2) people often think im an anti-vaxer because I'm not getting the vaccine
And 3) if I were older(no longer a minor) it wouldn't be very easy to get exempt from the vaccine, but people with health issues like mine can't get the vaccine due to risks with our health, and as much as I wish I could get the vaccine I can't because of my health

[anisha]

You have an amazing way of giving a befitting reply to anti vaxxers.
- a fellow doctor

[Sherrilynn]

Agreed. We need a better way to explain the mechanisms of viruses and how vaccines (and what they are actually doing) work to 'defeat ' serious illness.
Keep on educating! 😊💪

[emj]

I love the point about finding some obscure doctor who agrees with the point. So many times my dad has come out with conspiracies, a big one being: "xyz cures cancer, it isn't the cancer that kills you it's the chemo! They know xyz is the cure, big pharma suppress it because they're paid more for chemo!" then pointing to some random qualified doctor who argues that point. Basically saying "they're a doctor, and they agree, it must be right!". So far every time all I've been able to say is "doctors are humans too, some fall for these conspiracy theories just like any other human being." Glad I have another point to counter with. He likely won't see reason though, and that frustrates me so much.

[abbiewood]

I want to start this off by saying I am not an anti-vaxxer I just have a couple question to releive the confusion. With everybody screaming so loud both directions it’s hard to figure out what is and isn’t true. I’m very young and my parents hate the vaccine since I live in a really southern state most people around me so as well but I want to know more and get the vaccine. So my questions are,

I have heard that they can cause infirtility of birth defects, is that true?

Are there any serious side effects that can harm me

My grandma got it and when they checked for anti bodies she had none, what does that mean?

I’m not trying to to sound ignorant I am simply trying to learn the truth so be patient with me. These are arguments that my dad screams out on phone calls and have raised my anxiety towards the vaccine

[stevensalinas]

Keep fighting the good fight, Dr. Schmidt. Thanks for all you do.

[cherylcarlson]

When this mess started I found Dr John Campbell on youtube, he is RN professor who geeks out on statistics and was sentinel in warnings, his only fault was not thinking masks would be so important at get go, he always has listed credible sources for his info. That is where I would direct the wafflers but in my county they are stone stupid and I just want to point to each naked face and sing"Another one bites the dust" as loudly as myasthenia allows.At the same time my neighbor is in her second week of widowhood thanks to covid that was denied by her husband.She has a 14yo, 10 yo, 9 mo to raise as single parent with huge medical debt. if the virus isn't real, her hell is.