Someone forwarded me a Facebook post that asserted the airline operational meltdowns we have recently witnessed are because airline crews are “refusing the mandated jab.” Folks, this is false. Please don’t buy into the fake news.
Airline Crews Are NOT Walking Off Job Over COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
I strongly detest fake news, though I am particularly disgusted by trend we’ve seen over the last year of vaccine skepticism growing through the spread of misinformation online.
A Facebook post reads, “Breaking! Flights across America all backed up BC pilots/crew are walking off boarded flights! They are refusing the mandated jab!”
First of all, the operational meltdowns occurred at American Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Neither have implemented a vaccine mandate for employees (United, Frontier, and Hawaiian Airlines have).
Second, the delays were due to bad weather and a shortage of employees, not any outrage over a vaccine mandate that does not even exit.
What a sad hour that scientists who have dedicated their entire lives to research (and I’m not talking about Dr. Fauci) are discarded and everyone considers themselves an expert on vaccines because they read an article on Wikipedia or Telegram.
The best defense against COVID-19 is still to get a vaccine. Please get one.
I truly understand that many are skeptical about this vaccine across political, ideological, and racial spectrums, and it is not my intention to be be condescending. But I am begging you, if you are on the fence, keep looking. The vaccine is not foolproof, nor is it our salvation, but it is highly effective.
But even if you choose not to be vaccinated, have the intellectual integrity to tell the truth about it. Check your sources. No, flights across America are not being disrupted because of vaccine skepticism. No, the vaccine is not an attempt to transform your DNA for pernicious purposes. No, you are not more likely to contract COVID-19 with a vaccine than without one.
Misinformation has sowed tremendous division in the United States. Oh, what a divided country we live in. But the vaccine excuses and the puesdo-intellectual deception that has hoodwinked many into thinking the vaccine is something bad, not a breakthrough we should all be thankful for and gladly line up to receive, has made our road to recovery longer and more treacherous.
While French President Emmanuel Macron never said it, I’m very happy to say:
I no longer have any intention of sacrificing my life, my time, my freedom and the youth of my children, as well as their right to study properly, for those who refuse to be vaccinated. This time you stay at home, not us.
When we recognize that fake news seeks to profit by preying on people’s fears and weaknesses, we can develop the discernment not to be distracted by it.
Please: don’t wait to get vaccinated until you get COVID-19. There is no perfect defense, but the vaccine represents a strong one.
Happy Friday, all. Now go to do the right thing.
thank you for this post. disinformation and sharing disinformation is literally killing citizens. was in nyc a few weeks ago and talking to my mom’s despondent MD. he shared that a unvaxxed family of six came to nyc from NC. mom and dad now in his ICU, the 20 year old son intubated and the other three kids in the hotel very sick. how many people did they potentially pass C19 onto. #gettheshot
Bravo Matthew, well said. Of course won’t stop ~15-25% of Americans for continuing to believe and spread this anti-science, anti-vaxxing garbage.
Great story Matthew, we need more of this and less of the fighting between the groups on both sides. I personally am vaccinated but don’t care what others decide since I believe in the vaccine reducing the effect when (not if) I get Covid. Unless of course I already have it, which unless I would get tested, I probably would never knew. Today a Carnival cruise had 27 vaccinated staff members test positive, again they only know because of required tests.
What I do have a problem with is the cities that are requiring proof before allowing people to enter a restaurant or entertainment facility. This is a purely attempt to punish those who decide not to get vaccinated and to try and force them. If it was really about a concern over the spread of Covid (which makes no sense since the vaccinated are getting it and spreading it), then grocery stores would have the same requirements. It goes back to where you started, both sides are using this to divide the American public for reasons only each side understands
Meanwhile, I won’t lose any sleep over anyone’s decisions and respect them and hope they respect mine.
Private businesses can operate as they choose – isn’t that the Republican dogma?
Fully support these establishments protecting their employees and other responsible guests.
Sorry, I wasn’t trying to reply to your post, just post a general comment. But I must have hit reply after your post.
Not sure where you think I tried to make this political but in reading some of your stuff it’s best to ignore you. You come across as a bitter, angry person who thinks they know what’s best for everyone. And are exactly what I was talking about when people no longer respect others life choices.
Either way, I wasted too much time replying to someone like you.
“What I do have a problem with is the cities that are requiring proof before allowing people to enter a restaurant or entertainment facility. This is a purely attempt to punish those who decide not to get vaccinated and to try and force them.” – your quote
They aren’t punishing anti-vaxxers – they are 1) protecting their own employees (most likely majority working class) and 2) also protecting more responsible restaurant guests who actually do care about their fellow citizens and recognize there is an ongoing global pandemic.
Anti-vaxxers don’t have a given right to go to any private establishment just because they are breathing.
Dave sounds like a stealth anti-vaxxer.
Nope, double Moderna the first day I was eligible for my age group. Because I believe it will hide or reduce the symptoms when I get Covid, or when I had it and didn’t know. I just don’t understand the anger at those who don’t get it.
If vaccinated people are getting it and spreading it, why are we worried who doesn’t get the vaccine? It makes no sense, people are getting it for the 2nd and 3rd time. If someone in business is really concerned about employees and customers, then they lock the doors. Obviously no one wants to do that so we move on and live with it. I’m just against the theater that’s playing out by trying to punish the unvaccinated for no proven scientific reason. And why is it not also banning them from grocery stores?
I flew 70,000 miles last year before I was vaccinated and will go over 100,000 this year, all for personal enjoyment. I haven’t let Covid change my life but felt getting vaccinated was best for me. I respect others choices and really don’t care if they get sicker or die because they didn’t get the vaccine. And I’ve seen nothing that shows their decision is effecting my life. Other than all the people wasting their stimulus money on flying and having no clue how to act on a plane. But that’s another story.
“why are we worried who doesn’t get the vaccine?”
Less chance of them dying from it.
“It makes no sense, people are getting it for the 2nd and 3rd time.”
Depending on the vaccine, it usually is 2 doses for people.
“If someone in business is really concerned about employees and customers, then they lock the doors.”
Or, you know, make sure people get the vaccine? So their concern would be less/
“I’m just against the theater that’s playing out by trying to punish the unvaccinated for no proven scientific reason.”
So…you don’t believe there is a scientific reason to get vaccinated, but you got vaccinated anyway? Ok then.
“I respect others choices and really don’t care if they get sicker or die because they didn’t get the vaccine. And I’ve seen nothing that shows their decision is effecting my life.”
If does affect all our lives because it keeps the virus spreading more and keeping more people sick and possibly dying. Which is why we still have lockdowns and restrictions.
You really do come off as an anti-vaxxer who is just saying “I’m vaccinated but let me keep recycling anti-vaxxer talking points”…
Yea, a very obvious concern troll.
@ Matthew — The real reason is that they are all at Trump’s inauguration today. Did you go?
What?!
@ Matthew — You need to follow Q. Today is the day for Trump to return to WH.
Excellent post! Thank you!!
Matthew, I’m a big fan of yours, and maybe it’s just me, but I feel like there have been a few posts on this blog that did more than just tiptoe in to the vaccine skepticism/misleading information/fake news arena.
Do you mean Sunday?
Affirmative Ghost Rider
Probably Kyle. Can’t stand his posts, so I just ignore the whole blog on Sunday. If it gets worse I’ll just stop reading altogether. There’s really not much here that isn’t already on, or won’t soon show up on, OMAAT or VFTW.
Agree. I just mark them all as read on my RSS feed without opening. You can even tell which are his by the titles.
Can’t agree more re Kyle. His posts are garbage, I ignore the blog on Sundays to avoid his crap.
Replying to Aaron. Definitely not an Anti Vaxxer, but I don’t think you understand people like I exist. I’ll try to answer a few of your points.
I don’t care if others die. Yes, I am that person. It’s obvious the vaccine reduces the chances of getting a worse case of Covid, that’s why I got it. I played the odds in that it would reduce MY chances of dying when I get it. Now it appears everyone has gotten Covid, or will. That means if I don’t get a bad case, I made the right decision.
When I said people were getting it 2 or 3 times, I was talking about Covid, not vaccines. I believe we have no clue how Covid works or spreads at this point.
I just don’t agree with your point that vaccinated people are getting Covid in fewer numbers than unvaccinated. The numbers don’t seem to be showing it when you look at the groups being constantly tested. Which to me says many of us are possibly getting it, but don’t know it because the vaccine WORKS in reducing the symptoms. And we aren’t getting tests because we aren’t sick. Again, this is why I got vaccinated.
As for people dying, again not my problem if they know the risk of not getting vaccinated and then die from it. Actually it’s probably a good thing in some cases when it comes to Social Security and over population of the planet.
And still no proof that vaccinated aren’t spreading it, not sure why you continue to make that point. No reason for any restrictions or lockdowns in my mind. Just allow me to do and go where I want. Yea, I’m the selfish guy who only cares about how my life is affected. Which is why I didn’t change my life last year. Plenty of places to go that never shut down. Life is full of choices, I say let people make them.
It’s “sow” not “sew.”
Fixed. Thanks.
Misinformation is rampant. I was recently on a livestream where an employee asked about life insurance companies that deny paying out death benefits if they determine the deceased was vaccinated with a vaccine that was only under emergency use. Then this person asked if the company were to force vaccinations, will they then cover for the denied benefits.
It infuriated me to read that someone would publicly post this misinformation and camouflage it in a form of a question, and have the gall to then ask whether the company will cover for the supposed denied benefit.
A quick 30 second Google search would have immediately revealed that was completely false, yet this person rather spend that time propagating falsehoods on to a company live stream where others will see it and potentially be misinformed by it. It was additionally disappointing to see that there were over 90 people that like that anonymous comment.
When, if ever, was google search a truth standard? People believe what they want to hear. Nothing new there. Previously we just ignored people that said ridiculous things and moved on with our day. Now we call it misinformation so we have moral authority and talk about how mad it makes us. Not sure this is progress. The tone of Matthew’s post is excellent. Very much appreciated.
Again, this webmaster has the wrong end of the stick. Hundreds of crew members are in PRIVATE CHAT ROOMS trying to fight back. They are prepared to be fired. WE are gathering legal support. Patriotic Crew peeps with a gentle deportment. #PAXsayNO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patriotic? Patriotic would be to think beyond your own selfish and delusional self for other people and how your vaccination could help save perhaps not only your own life, but that of others. Patriotism is asking not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country. Whatever happened to caring about other people and participating in society? The lack of civic responsibility in favor of individual “freedoms” is just mind-melting.
Matt,
Your wife’ s in the medical industry. And for your own reasons you both took the jabs. You should not use this platform to advise others to follow your path.
But back to the headline. The cancelations were indeed not associated with the jabs. In fact AA only currently has 18 pilots out with confirmed Covid out of 15,000 pilots.
As far as mandating the shot to work, NFW I will ever take a experimental gene editing drug with very high chance of a bad reaction or death. Getting Covid or a variant with over 99.5% recovery with zero medical intervention. We see the break thrus. The drugs are a failure and a high risk to all who have taken them. Many young Flight Attendants are having health issues since taking the jab(s).
When management gives a number of pilots that have been vexed, this is a fabrication as they have no way of knowing this. Any major airline that fires 1/2 its pilots for not taking a forced shot will go out of business. UAL will be the canary. Airlines are sucking on federal handouts and will say what the hosts want them to say. I have flown with a couple who have taken the jabs and they all said that they would not do it again.
You cannot print ATP Commanders like the FED prints worthless dollars.
“Drugs are a failure” – seriously piss off. It’s the misinformation-spreading anti-vaxxers such as yourself that are clogging up ERs right now.
Get the jab and don’t be a Tucker Troll.
Any article with “Someone forwarded me a Facebook post” is a joke. Does any sane person rely on FB posts in their pursuit of truth?
Blatant Fake News is a problem, but so is No News, the failure to investigate or report.
Examples of No News:
-What % of Covid tests given to enter the U.S. are “Negative”? Is is 100%? If so, why test?
-How many fully vaccinated people have died after subsequently getting Covid?
-Why is there almost zero news about the lambda variant from Peru, which has the highest Covid mortality rate in the world?
-How do Johns Hopkins and the CDC independently verify information from countries that have been caught in massive distortions of Covid death numbers (Vietnam, Peru, Venezuela, Italy, China, etc.)?