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A growing number of Republicans are encouraging Americans to get vaccinated, despite misinformation spread by right-wing commentators.
Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise, number two among Republicans in the House, announced yesterday that he had received his first injection of Pfizer – telling Nola.com the vaccines are “safe and effective.”
Louisiana’s largest private hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in Baton Rouge, has more than COVID patients right now than any other hospital in the state. They admitted 23 patients in 24 hours over the weekend and filled an entire floor of the hospital with just these patients.
CBS News senior national correspondent David Begnaud gained access to one of the COVID units.
“I honestly think I walked my last day on this earth. I couldn’t breathe. All of a sudden my lungs didn’t work anymore,” Paula Johnson told Begnaud. She was taken to hospital by ambulance. “I don’t have any co-morbidities, nothing, I’ve never had a lung problem. I don’t smoke, nothing. And it took my lungs out and just… I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s like trying to inspire and hit a wall in a second. “
Johnson is a pharmaceutical researcher who delayed getting the vaccine. Now she wants it.
“I would say get the shot, take a chance, it can’t hurt, all he can do is alleviate some of the symptoms, even if that doesn’t stop you from doing it – it does. will at least help get through that, ”Johnson said.
About one in three Louisians is fully immunized. This week, the state’s health department reported the highest number of COVID-19-related hospitalizations since the end of February. Scott Roe is one of them.
“Here I am recovering, finally getting out by tomorrow. Am I going to get the vaccine? No,” Roe said. “Because there are too many problems with these vaccines.”
This father, a former baseball coach, small business owner and hunter contracted COVID and then developed pneumonia.
“Before you got sick,” Begnaud asked Roe, “if you had had the chance to get the vaccine and avoid it, would you have taken the vaccine? “
“No,” Roe said. “I would have been there, yes sir… Don’t stick it down my throat. That’s what the local, state and federal government is trying to do – stick it down your throat.”
“What are they pushing,” asked Begnaud, “science?
“No, they’re pushing the fact that it’s their program,” Roe said, “their program is to get you vaccinated.”
“Do you know who Mr. Scalise is?” Begnaud asked Roe.
“I know full well who Steve Scalise is,” Roe said.
Roe, who is a Republican, had not heard that Congressman Scalise took center stage Tuesday as a vaccine promoter. Begnaud asked him to read the congressman’s statement.
“He thinks it’s safe and effective,” Roe said.
“And what is your reaction? Begnaud asked.
“Not proven,” Roe said.
“But does his opinion change yours?” Begnaud asked.
“No it’s not,” Roe said.
Dr. Catherine O’Neal, chief medical officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, has not mince words.
“We’re either going to get vaccinated and end the pandemic. Or we’re going to accept death,” O’Neal said.
“We are a proud state. We are a state full of courage,” she continued. “So if you are pro-vax you are going to tell everyone. If you are not you are going to do the same. So how can we help find something that helps them understand that your community is going to die? “
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