More on Big Bird and vaccinations

In the tradition of right-wing conspiracy theories on Mr. Potato Head and Dr. Seuss.

Satire: Big Bird getting a vaccine (he’s a 6-year-old! He ought to get a vaccine now!) is not communism or government propaganda. This is what it would look like if Big Bird were government propaganda: https://t.co/eAuL9znkIE
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 9, 2021

BREAKING: Big Bird is taken into custody after beating the living shit out of Aarron Rodgers for spreading misinformation about Ivermectin and COVID vaccinations. pic.twitter.com/M4f3kjAVG3
— Paul Lee Teeks (@PaulLeeTeeks) November 7, 2021

Big Bird — who is, apparently, just six years old, was one — was persuaded to get vaccinated after listening to Hill and Dr. Gupta. The experts explained to Big Bird how the vaccine helps build up your body’s defenses, should it ever meet any “COVID germs” https://t.co/rR1xrUGQ7h
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) November 8, 2021

More Than 2 Million People Have Watched This Video Clip of Big Bird Getting Vaccinated…From 1972 https://t.co/iebgjF5ksp
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) November 8, 2021

Biden replies to Big Bird. pic.twitter.com/EpqAtGolLN
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) November 8, 2021

They’re mad at big bird lol pic.twitter.com/S1ToEN5oEc
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) November 6, 2021

BIG BIRD – BIG THREAD pic.twitter.com/cJ77adtIb5
— Francesco Francavilla (@f_francavilla) November 9, 2021

Big Bird got his Pfizer shot, and conservatives are calling it vaccine "propaganda" https://t.co/84dfVx3B58
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 9, 2021

Jimmy Kimmel: “It’s interesting because not only is @TedCruz vaccinated himself—Ted Cruz was born with an immunity that protects him from contracting any friends.” https://t.co/1BPpTh0Kjs
— Marlow Stern (@MarlowNYC) November 9, 2021

Big Bird is kind, compassionate, empathetic, loving, adored, and vaccinated. Ted Cruz is . . . vaccinated.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) November 8, 2021

Not really sure why Big Bird is always getting attacked for being a communist. Republicans went after him in the 1990s and again in 2012. No one ever seems to notice that Elmo is actually … red.
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) November 9, 2021

This is a movement. Join us and let's fly Ted Cruz out of Texas. pic.twitter.com/Mrdebb6f6y
— Big Bird for Senate (Parody) (@SenatorBigBird) November 9, 2021

Vaccine polls 10/28/21

Only 11% of unvaccinated workers say they would get vaccinated if their employer required it via new @KFF poll.

46% say they would get tested weekly and 37% say they would leave their job.

If no testing were available, 72% say they would leave their jobs vs. 17% get vaccinated.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) October 28, 2021

One in five US adults (20%) say they will definitely not get the COVID-19 vaccine or will get vaccinated only if required via new @KFF poll out today.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) October 28, 2021

From July through September, the most-vaccinated counties saw 26 covid deaths per 100,000; the least-vaccinated saw 47.

Meanwhile, the least-vaccinated counties are more Republican and Republicans more likely to claim a freedom objection to vaccination. https://t.co/jTyXoOk0it
— Philip Bump (@pbump) October 21, 2021

There are more unvaccinated people in counties that backed Biden but counties that backed Trump have a higher percentage of unvaccinated residents. https://t.co/Fd8BJLnN7S pic.twitter.com/dnbKLrHhJZ
— Philip Bump (@pbump) October 8, 2021

Once students of all ages are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, do you think all kindergarten through 12th grade students should be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or not?

REP
Yes/Required 17%
No 79%

DEM
Yes/Required 79%
No 19%

(Quinnipiac U. Poll, 10/1-4/21)
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) October 6, 2021

New AP-NORC poll: Vaccinated older adults are far more worried about the virus than the unvaccinated and far likelier to take precautions despite the protection afforded by their shots. https://t.co/Qrr0BFrgUX
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 29, 2021

Vaccinated Americans overwhelmingly blamed the unvaccinated for sky-high Covid-19 cases, a new Kaiser poll found, while the unvaccinated unsurprisingly ranked themselves last out of all reasons for the surge.#GetVaccinated https://t.co/gf7FobrKjo
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) September 28, 2021

55% of parents of children under 12 years old say they plan to have their children vaccinated once approved, including 83% of Democrats, 50% of independents and 21% of Republicans via new Gallup poll out today.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 28, 2021

Only 30% of Trump voters believe BOTH that the vaccine is safe and effective AND that masks help reduce spread via new Fox News poll.

27% believe just one or the other.

33% believe neither.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 19, 2021

Bad headlines and tweets emphasize the small percentage who don’t obey mandates

Mandates are working – that’s what they should say.

This is the fourth paragraph but should be the lead. pic.twitter.com/c1gXWTmLSO
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) February 11, 2022

The 6th paragraph should be the lead. Mandates work. pic.twitter.com/JQpXN9BvP7
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) February 6, 2022

Another example of the media emphasizing the wrong thing. This is in the article and should have been the main point:
"Roughly 97% of all Army soldiers have gotten at least one shot." https://t.co/Dc78yGtmQ1
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) February 2, 2022

The headline should be that nearly 99% complied with the vaccine mandate. Mandates work!
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) January 5, 2022

The article says they have 125,000 employees. https://t.co/Ko5Seei8hL
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) October 27, 2021

Imagine our leading news organizations throwing this much attention at a 4% holdout faction on any other issue of consequence. https://t.co/pFjU3Ym6wh
— Greg Greene (@ggreeneva) October 24, 2021

It's off a base of 63,300 employees! So less than 3% of people quit…IN AN ENTIRE STATE.

The headline "Overwhelming majority of employees comply" was right there! https://t.co/GTglFiC1YG
— Ben Wakana (@benwakana46) October 20, 2021

This is a story about how 98.5% of students in San Diego attended school today. https://t.co/NZYm6rym4d
— Andy Kopp (@andykoppsd) October 19, 2021

Headlines say "500 let go" or "200 terminated" — but these numbers are in huge health care systems — usually less than 1% of health care workers are refusing to get vax'ed. pic.twitter.com/FfeircnJJo
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) October 7, 2021

Time and again, the final number of actual resignations is around 1%. https://t.co/HOqAPvaxX3
— Heidi Przybyla (@HeidiNBC) October 6, 2021

400 Henry Ford Hospital staff members quit over COVID-19 vaccine mandate https://t.co/gpOS5oxnfn
— WXYZ Detroit (@wxyzdetroit) October 6, 2021

This is under 2% of the 76,000 person workforce…https://t.co/7nLxHA8tCT
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) October 4, 2021

Several hundred Virginia health-care workers have been suspended or fired over coronavirus vaccine mandates https://t.co/V0BnvqHYtx
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 3, 2021

North Carolina hospital network fires around 175 staffers for not getting vaccinated. https://t.co/azAHb52UR1
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 3, 2021

The NYT does it again: "House Delays Vote on Infrastructure Bill as Democrats Feud." On the homepage they call it a "Big Setback for the Biden Agenda." Really? Really? A day? A couple of days? The media is getting this story 100% wrong. https://t.co/JWAXpmLYXl
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) October 1, 2021

Vaccine mandates work

Much of the coverage is distorted and focuses on the small percentage of employees who are fired compared to the many people who got vaccinated.

.@Reuters: "Vaccination rates against COVID-19 in the United States have risen by more than 20 percentage points after multiple institutions adopted vaccine requirements" https://t.co/EpoO1STBuY
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) October 14, 2021

Vaccination rates for workers spiked following city-issued mandates:

In San Francisco, the immunization rate among city workers spiked from 55% this summer to 94% as of last week.

Walnut Creek, CA went from 65% to 86%.

San Jose went from 84% to 93%.https://t.co/G1EybHIpoN
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 12, 2021

Vax rate in NYC agencies with a mandate in place:
* Dept. of Ed – 95%
* Public hospitals – 93%

Rate in agencies without a mandate:
* Children's Services – 69%
* NYPD – 68%
* Homeless Services – 65%
* EMS – 60%
* FDNY – 59%
* Corrections – 49%

The lesson is clear. Time to act.
— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) October 10, 2021

NEW: United Airlines now says *even fewer* workers are resisting its vaccine mandate— terminating only 232 of 67,000 workers. 300+ either uploaded records late or changed their minds and got vaccinated (!) when faced with the start of the firing process.
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) October 5, 2021

Vaccine mandates work: Major industries are firing few employees for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine https://t.co/DkbB5GVs9h
— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) October 4, 2021

Despite fears of protests and chaos, the Biden-led push for vaccine mandates is a rousing success. America needs more tough-love politics like that, writes columnist @Will_Bunch https://t.co/hJzQ5btQ9V
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) October 3, 2021

No matter what Republicans say, the science proves that vaccine requirements work and Americans are ready to put the pandemic behind them. https://t.co/ZfSUY7unoO
— DNC War Room (@DNCWarRoom) October 29, 2021

Vaccine mandates work

It’s too bad the media focuses on the small amount of people who are willing to lose their jobs instead of getting vaccinated.

99% of United Airline workers complied with its vaccine mandate. https://t.co/OwdhuBhbTK
— Robert Rutledge (@rerutled) September 29, 2021

Less than 1% refused — great success @United in getting the workforce vaccinated — a massive jump in the vaccination rate due to a vaccine requirement. https://t.co/gLmICQqIve
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) September 28, 2021

I would have chosen a different headline–how about:

"More than 99 percent of the system’s roughly 35,000 employees have followed the mandatory vaccination program."

Vaccine requirements work. They are routine in healthcare settings for other preventable diseases. https://t.co/IVkLlmS65M
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) September 28, 2021

Despite claims by the Massachusetts State Police union that “dozens of troopers” have submitted their resignations due to a COVID-19 vaccine requirement, a State Police spokesman only one trooper has definitively said he will retire because of the mandate. https://t.co/X7vUs41MJc
— John FitzGerald (@TheTweetOfJohn) September 28, 2021

I guess “34,825 healthcare workers comply with vaccine mandate and keep their jobs” isn’t as exciting of a headline

Mandates work. https://t.co/M75NsHAwTW
— Angry Staffer (@Angry_Staffer) September 28, 2021

Bad CNN tweet on who is vaccinated.

Republicans are the problem. Romney’s statement is cowardly and should be challenged. The media really gets me angry. They’re afraid Republicans will say they’re biased.

This is a bad "both sides" take and should be challenged. The Democratic team has a much higher vaccination rate than the Republican team. Republicans have politicized this. https://t.co/g1snBUykI1
— Harris Levy (@HarrisL585) September 17, 2021

Vaccine stats 9/16/21

There remain 18 states that have yet to fully vaccinate at least half of all residents, data shows, having a profound effect on hospitalizations and deaths. https://t.co/AlSOK8Qsx4
— CNN (@CNN) September 24, 2021

81% of Democrats under 30 years old have gotten vaccinated vs. 45% of Republicans under 30 years old, according to a new Pew Research poll just out.
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 15, 2021

Vaccination rates:

France: 72 percent
Canada: 68.7 percent
Italy: 66.3 percent
UK: 65.9 percent
Germany: 62.2 percent
America: 53.9 percent

Is this what they mean by American exceptionalism?
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) September 15, 2021

US vaccinated by religion via new Pew poll:

90% atheist
86% Hispanic Catholic
84% agnostic
79% White Catholic
73% White mainline protestant
70% Black protestant
57% White evangelical protestant
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 15, 2021

Factoid: There are 18 Montgomery Counties in USA in the NYT database.

Montgomery County, Md. has the lowest new case rate per capita and the highest vaccination rate.

And it’s not close.

About 80% fewer people would be dying right now in USA with MoCo’s numbers.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) September 12, 2021

Black adult population is up to 76% vaccinated now; Latinos 71%.

White population lagging at 66%, and the reason why:

Republicans: Just 55% vaxxed
Republicans who support Trump over party: Just *46%*

Trumpists are killing themselves and threatening us. https://t.co/nfGtbEDpgx
— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) September 11, 2021

With just 62% of Americans having received at least one vaccine shot, the United States has now fallen to last place among the G7 wealthiest democracies. @AlyssaLukpat https://t.co/ZpCyYCwUz5
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) September 12, 2021

As people <50 are hospitalized at record rates, what are racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination rates by age group? Large disparities at youngest ages

h/t @bhrenton for suggesting
& @DrMaryTBassett et al. for showing importance of age-specific analyses of disparities pic.twitter.com/ynxU4alvs6
— Julia Raifman (@JuliaRaifman) September 11, 2021

There’s A LOT here. https://t.co/HIqze3q3sc
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) September 11, 2021

Share of total population vaccinated by race via @KFF analysis of 42 states:

Asian 68%
White 52%
Hispanic 48%
Black 43%
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) September 10, 2021

Just some context re partisanship and vax, as noted throughout the summer:
Most Republicans are vaccinated. (As are most Dems and Inds)
— Anthony Salvanto (@SalvantoCBS) September 10, 2021

Over 71% of California’s total population has been vaccinated.

The result? We have by far the lowest COVID rate in the nation.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 24, 2021

Mask and vaccination mandates and polls

Right wing Republicans are out of step with the public but insist on imposing their will anyway. Get vaccinated and wear a mask when appropriate.

GALLUP: Majorities of Americans now favor businesses mandating proof of vaccination to travel by plane, stay in a hotel, attended crowded events, eat at restaurants and go to the office.https://t.co/3j4LWqE40Q pic.twitter.com/csMkAhqrku
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 7, 2021

BREAKING: 72% of Texans oppose Greg Abbott's ban on mask requirements in schools, according to new poll.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) August 17, 2021

Mask tracker: State mask mandates are trickling back. https://t.co/0mZHmnuL85
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 6, 2021

(Reuters) – More than half of U.S. companies are planning to impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the workplace by year end, with almost a quarter considering vaccination as a condition for employment, according to a national survey of nearly 1,000 employers.@reuters
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) September 1, 2021

An overwhelming 72%-28% in USA TODAY/ Ipsos poll called mask mandates "a matter of health and safety," not an infringement on personal liberty. By 61%-39%, they endorsed requiring vaccinations except for those with a medical or religious exemption.
https://t.co/TGsVmSgsdq
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) August 23, 2021

USA Today-Ipsos poll:

Americans 72%-28% called mask mandates "a matter of health and safety," not an infringement on personal liberty

Americans 61%-39% endorsed requiring vaccinations except for those with a medical or religious exemption
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 23, 2021

Biden's vow to use the Education Department to investigate bans on mask mandates is a key moment. It signals federal power may be deployed to support communities under attack by GOP governors.

"We need the help," a Florida schools superintendent tells me:https://t.co/IBwOKDopuW
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 19, 2021

A doctor who testified at the Charleston, SC City Council meeting last night on mask mandates, said she was “spit on, called a whore and a white piece of trash,” after her testimony. Both the Mayor and Police Chief had to repeatedly calm the crowd down. pic.twitter.com/kUjG4SYnqp
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 18, 2021

Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee signed an executive order on Tuesday allowing parents to opt their children out of mask mandates at school. The state is one of several where a Republican governor opposes mask mandates that are supported by school officials. https://t.co/v6P14iiAr9
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 16, 2021

A dad at Sutter Creek Elementary School in Amador, CA, irate over mask mandates, beat up a teacher and sent him to the hospital on the first day of school this week. pic.twitter.com/QSYIrcbSrX
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 15, 2021

Vaccine card on your phone

Your vaccine card could soon be required at the best restaurants, clubs and shows. Columnist @nicnguyen explains how to save a digital copy and register with eligible vaccine passport apps. https://t.co/npUuz79wCn
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 5, 2021

You may be COVID 'carded': How to store your vaccine card on any phone https://t.co/a8naqGZERW
— CNET (@CNET) August 30, 2021

When you have a digital copy, you won't have to worry about losing your vaccine card. https://t.co/VyYXFinyKX
— POPSUGAR Fitness (@POPSUGARFitness) August 26, 2021

Even in states that banned 'passports,' digital vaccine records are taking off https://t.co/FbTRaztiZX
— POLITICO (@politico) February 23, 2022

Depending on where you’re headed, showing a vaccination card from the CDC may not be enough. You may need to take extra steps before your trip to set up a “vaccine passport” that can be digitally verified.https://t.co/uckC0e1v7H
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) March 14, 2022

Fake vaccine cards

Why pay for a fake vaccine card when you can get the vaccine for free? The Trump cult would rather die than let Biden look good by ending the pandemic.

An Instagram user who went by “AntiVaxMomma” sold hundreds of fake covid vaccine cards, prosecutors say https://t.co/EtFSnapZyM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 1, 2021

24-year-old Chloe Mrozak from Illinois was arrested after allegedly using this fake #COVID19 vaccine card to enter Hawaii and avoid travel restrictions — it says “Maderna” instead of “Moderna” @KITV4 pic.twitter.com/1EWp3eG3OR
— Tom George (@TheTomGeorge) September 1, 2021

Miami Beach couple arrested in Hawaii after allegedly using fake vaccination cards for themselves and their two children #BecauseMiami: https://t.co/obyJ3JZMO4 pic.twitter.com/TCnXsS21vh
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) August 19, 2021

It’s insane how the people buying fake vaccination cards are literally the same people who complain about undocumented immigrants using fake documents.
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 9, 2021

Here's why officials are urging the public against making, selling or encouraging fake Covid-19 vaccination printouts
• Legal consequences could be steep
• Fakers could lose their job or be thrown off campus
• It could endanger themselves and others https://t.co/KeK5LAtDd9
— CNN (@CNN) May 8, 2021

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Washington Post (@washingtonpost)

So, there's no real way to verify a vaccine card.

Pro-Trump, QAnon, and anti-vaxx forums figured this out, then came up with a guide on how to make hi-res fakes.

Some even remind people keep the handwriting messy, emulating a tired nurse.https://t.co/G9y2IBJwQU pic.twitter.com/pISuSDH0JR
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) April 29, 2021

A research firm has continued to monitor the dark web for fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards and recently noticed an increase in the number of vendors. https://t.co/MlERoE0EuG
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 10, 2021