The Vaccine Dilemma

Another popular conspiracy theory claims that vaccines are designed to monitor us. As I’ve remarked to the media, you aren’t that significant. Even if you were wealthy, there are simpler ways to trace your movements.

Consider your smartphone. That device you use to share conspiracy theories? It can track you and eavesdrop on your conversations. Your car's license plate? The electronic toll pass? All of these methods are more effective for surveillance. Even facial recognition from a neighbor's security camera is a more straightforward tracking method.

There’s simply no need to implant a chip. Moreover, if such a minuscule chip were to be injected, the energy required for it to transmit data effectively would generate enough heat for it to be noticeable. This is basic physics.

So, which is it? Do you prefer not to be tracked, or do you want to carry a sophisticated device loaded with powerful chips and radios that can monitor your every move? After all, you frequently check in at various locations and rarely erase the metadata from your photos!

Debunking the Denial

One of the most perplexing claims is that the coronavirus isn’t real, yet simultaneously, that it was deliberately released by China as a bioweapon. I wish I were joking.

This stance mirrors the HIV/AIDS denialists who argue either that HIV does not cause AIDS or that HIV itself is a myth, claiming insufficient research has been conducted over the past 45 years to "settle the science." When challenged, they often assert that the virus simply does not exist.

It's alarming to hear these contradictory claims in a single breath: “They are deceiving us about the virus. No one is ill… But if they are, it’s because of China.”

Political Inconsistencies

Lastly, let’s address the political contradictions. On one hand, conservative governors in Texas and Florida resist government intervention in free enterprise, while simultaneously restricting businesses from implementing their own mask and vaccination policies. They argue they are safeguarding businesses from governmental regulation while enacting laws that limit business autonomy. True free enterprise suggests that if consumers disapprove of a business's actions, they should vote with their wallets, allowing the market to recalibrate.

Yes, public health recommendations have evolved throughout the pandemic as our understanding of the virus and vaccines has improved. However, these guidelines have never been as contradictory as the assertions made by science deniers. Dr. Fauci has never claimed that masks work while simultaneously stating that they don’t. The Surgeon General, even during the Trump administration, never supported vaccinations while promoting anti-vaccine rhetoric, unlike the current Surgeon General of Florida.

It is disheartening to witness so many individuals—who ought to know better—engage in the intellectual dishonesty evident globally.

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, is a public health doctor and epidemiologist with a passion for photography and outdoor activities. He works as an epidemiologist at a local health department in Virginia. His views are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of his employers or acquaintances.