Rep. Lauren Boebert (Republican from Colorado) was criticized Monday for tweeting a false analogy that compared the coronavirus and a headache.
This morning, I woke up with headaches. Tylenol was my first choice. She wrote that if others could also take Tylenol, mine would work.
Conspiracy-endorsing Republican who regularly posts inflammatory tweets, apparently without regard for how good they make, was ostensibly trying swipe at the push to immunise more people to stop the spread of COVID-19 caused by the unvaccinated and delta variant.
She opposed many pandemic mitigation strategies, mask mandates, and made it a point to defy mask-wearing rules in Congress.
However, the tweet made no sense for many reasons. A headache is not contagious and can be fatal. A headache medication is not the same as a vaccine that protects against viruses.
This morning, I woke up with headaches. Tylenol was my first choice. It would be wonderful if others could also take Tylenol so that mine starts working. pic.twitter.com/LaaNHhaokn Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) September 27, 2021
Although breakthrough coronavirus infections may occur in vaccinated individuals, the symptoms are usually far less severe and the majority of deaths and hospitalizations are among those who are not vaccinated.
Right-wing politicians and media have embraced anti-vaccine rhetoric that is politicized. This has helped fuel vaccine holdouts. Gallup found that Americans who have not been vaccinated are significantly less educated than average Americans about vaccine efficacy. Gallup analysts suggest this could be due to how they consume media.
Boebert has been criticised for encouraging vaccine hesitancy, misinformation. Boebert has not revealed her vaccination status.
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Monday's tweet was ridiculed by critics, including Ted Lieu and Eric Swalwell of California, her Democratic colleagues.
This is a perfect example of the way the radical GQP views vaccinations. They ignore the relationship between population and effectiveness, and provide zero care for anyone else. https://t.co/Pqqs7j3q6R Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) September 27, 2021
Three days ago, my son developed a headache. Now, I have a headache.
Before I buy Tylenol, however, I will do my research. Next, I will talk to my cousin friend. https://t.co/mr4jy7fhri Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 27, 2021
I'm surprised that you were able to bypass the child safety lock on your bottle. https://t.co/NXUCzduGEy The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 27, 2021
Tell us what Tylenol is. No googling. https://t.co/PdCMxC7cAV The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) September 27, 2021
how is she this stupid https://t.co/OFC0WP7p6L Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 27, 2021
I fear that the gravitational pull of her stupidity will make us all stupider. Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump September 27, 2021
At first, I was going to reply "headaches don't have a contagious effect" but then I got one reading this idiotic tweet Erin And A Half Ryan @morninggloria September 27, 2021
Worse? What's worse? #idiocracyhttps://t.co/A6F8Rzl7GW Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) September 27, 2021
A HEADACHE DOES NOT CONTAIN YOU WEIRDO! MY UNVACCINATED CHILDREN AND MY PARENTS CAN NOT BE KILLED BY YOUR HEADACHE. https://t.co/NWs6uKAaor Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 27, 2021
This article was originally published on HuffPost. It has since been updated.
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