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Republicans Government Medicine

Republican Bill In Idaho Would Make mRNA-Based Vaccination a Crime 518

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Two Republican lawmakers in Idaho have introduced a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for anyone in the state to administer mRNA-based vaccines -- namely the lifesaving and remarkably safe COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. If passed as written, it would also preemptively ban the use of countless other mRNA vaccines that are now in development, such as shots for RSV, a variety of cancers, HIV, flu, Nipah virus, and cystic fibrosis, among others. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Tammy Nichols of Middleton and Rep. Judy Boyle of Midvale, both staunch conservatives who say they stand for freedom and the right to life. But their bill, HB 154, proposes that "a person may not provide or administer a vaccine developed using messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] technology for use in an individual or any other mammal in this state." If passed into law, anyone administering lifesaving mRNA-based vaccines would be guilty of a misdemeanor, which could result in jail time and/or a fine.

While presenting the bill to the House Health & Welfare Committee last week, Nichols said their anti-mRNA stance stems from the fact that the COVID-19 vaccines were initially allowed under emergency use authorizations (EUAs) from the Food and Drug Administration, not the agency's full regulatory approval. "We have issues that this was fast-tracked," she told fellow lawmakers, according to reporting from local news outlet KXLY.com. [...] "They ultimately were approved under the ordinary approval process and did ultimately, you know, survive the scrutiny of being subjected to all the normal tests," Rep. Ilana Rubel, a democrat from Boise, said. Nichols seemed unswayed by the point, however, with KTVB7 reporting that she responded that the FDA's approval "may not have been done like we thought it should've been done."

To date, more than 269 million people in the US have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine, and over 700 million doses of mRNA-based vaccines have gone into American arms, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency keeps close tabs on safety through various national surveillance systems. Although the shots do carry some risk (as is the case for any medical intervention), they have proven remarkably safe amid widespread use of hundreds of millions of doses in the US and worldwide. A study released late last year found that COVID-19 vaccination in the US alone averted more than 18 million additional hospitalizations and more than 3 million additional deaths from the pandemic coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
The National Human Genome Research Institute notes that mRNA "is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis. mRNA is made from a DNA template during the process of transcription. The role of mRNA is to carry protein information from the DNA in a cell's nucleus to the cell's cytoplasm (watery interior), where the protein-making machinery reads the mRNA sequence and translates each three-base codon into its corresponding amino acid in a growing protein chain."

mRNA-based vaccines made their public debut amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but researchers have been "working toward these vaccines for decades beforehand," adds Ars.
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Republican Bill In Idaho Would Make mRNA-Based Vaccination a Crime

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  • by dskoll ( 99328 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:04PM (#63312749) Homepage

    If anyone still thinks the GOP hasn't deteriorated into a fascist bunch of raving fucking lunatics... then you're not paying attention.

    • If anyone still thinks the GOP hasn't deteriorated into a fascist bunch of raving fucking lunatics... then you're not paying attention.

      Or just chronically/congenitally are unable to piece simple things together to get a generalized idea of reality beyond repeating talking points. I mean, if this isn’t obvious to anyone I’m sorry you were dealt that hand in life.

      • It's probably a generalized tendency of elected politicians to be stupid. After all if they had useful life skills they'd have a real job instead.

    • by Powercntrl ( 458442 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:26PM (#63312823) Homepage

      If anyone still thinks the GOP hasn't deteriorated into a fascist bunch of raving fucking lunatics... then you're not paying attention.

      Problem is, that doesn't stop a significant portion of the electorate from voting for them. Back in ye olde 2016, I had similar conversations with the usual sort of friends and family who were quite concerned that a Democrat was gonna cast the socialism spell and their taxes would go up like Dogecoin after an Elon Musk tweet. At least, concerned enough that was a more important issue than the possibility of a Republican president winning, seating a bunch of right-wing biased justices to the SCOTUS, and my partner and I's marriage going up in a cloud of political homophobia.

      Okay, the very last part of that ended up not transpiring, thanks to wins on the Democrat side and The Respect for Marriage act passing. It can't be said often enough: both sides are not the same.

    • by dskoll ( 99328 )

      Wow, parent was at 5 and is now at 3. Trollbot army has mobilized...

    • by Tablizer ( 95088 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:56PM (#63312903) Journal

      Rural communities just don't trust large or "outside" institutions at all, be it medicine or science. Sure the institutions are not perfect, but have far more checks and balances than most other endeavors.

      But assuming such is true, why don't they apply the same distrust to Fox, OAN, Breitbart, etc? If science and medicine are so easy to corrupt, why is right-wing media immune to corruption?

      The only answer I can get from them that makes semi-sense is that they trust their gut that Fox et. al. are reasonably accurate. Evangelicals are often taught that to get an answer, one prays and then trust their gut. That seems to be valued more than critical thinking and cross-checking.

      If someone simply devalues critical thinking over their gut, they are probably unfixable, stuck in the pre-science era and happy to stay there.

      • Because (Score:5, Informative)

        by big-giant-head ( 148077 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @10:31PM (#63313209)

        Rural communities have a lot of folks that simply don't want to hear it. So they pic Fox news, OAN etc. I call it shouting into the echo chamber. All they want to hear is that they are right. Every one else is wrong. Old Rich White Guys with bad tans will save them. People with dark skin are bad. All Mexicans are criminals. Before someone gives me a -1. I live in Oklahoma, I know of which I speak. These people don't want to think or attempt to see someone else's viewpoint. They just want hear that they are right and they have viewed the world is ok and everyone else is wrong, liberal, groomer etc. Trying to think through the science is way more than they want to deal with.

    • by rsilvergun ( 571051 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @08:20PM (#63312971)
      but they didn't have this much power. They got a ton of money from billionaires to take control of state legislatures. The Koch bros in particular were trying to take the state legislatures so they could call a constitutional convention and re-write the constitution to their liking.

      It's been like this since Goldwater lost. And it was Goldwater who warned us. [goodreads.com]
  • by linuxguy ( 98493 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:07PM (#63312753) Homepage
    Stunts like this make it very very difficult to take any modern Republican seriously. There is so much garbage being spewed, it is difficult to stick around and find out if there are any ideas worth merit.
    • by dskoll ( 99328 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:09PM (#63312761) Homepage

      find out if there are any ideas worth merit.

      TL;DR: There aren't.

    • It really appears to me as if the republican party is pushing for a return of the dark ages mentality. And it happened once before, nothing says it can't happen again.
  • by Powercntrl ( 458442 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:14PM (#63312779) Homepage

    I'd honestly imagine some of these politicians would find it preferable to live in an Amish community. No more of that pesky God-angering newfangled technology stuff, and they could live a simple life milking cows, bailing hay, and praying that they don't become sick - because even the Amish rely on modern medicine these days. *grin*

    • The Amish actually believe in their lifestyle, and make personal sacrifices to adhere to it.

      The guys in this article are just pretending to be as retarded as their marks.

  • by Impy the Impiuos Imp ( 442658 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:17PM (#63312793) Journal

    Frankenfoods

    Frankencorn

    Frankenhumans

    You have to wait for those who feed your echo chambers to find out what you think.

  • by quonset ( 4839537 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:19PM (#63312803)

    The bill is sponsored by Sen. Tammy Nichols of Middleton and Rep. Judy Boyle of Midvale, both staunch conservatives who say they stand for freedom and the right to life

    They're so much for freedom that they'll take away a person's right to seek out medical care which could save their life.

  • by Local ID10T ( 790134 ) <ID10T.L.USER@gmail.com> on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:20PM (#63312805) Homepage

    Fortunately it may be a self-correcting problem.

    Unfortunately they may hurt a lot of others along the way.

  • by jmccue ( 834797 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:21PM (#63312809) Homepage

    Well then the GOP should make viagra illegal. It has more side effects that mRNA

    https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-7417/viagra-oral/details

  • by Daemonik ( 171801 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:21PM (#63312813) Homepage
    Sounds like a problem that will resolve itself one way or another in the next pandemic. Honestly I have zero sympathy, they voted for these imbeciles, let them live with the consequences.

    In fact, let's pass a law dictating that without full immunizations your insurance company has no obligation to pay for your healthcare and help accelerate the process.
    • by sinij ( 911942 )

      In fact, let's pass a law dictating that without full immunizations your insurance company has no obligation to pay for your healthcare and help accelerate the process.

      Yes, because clearly solution to a partisan idiocy is another partisan idiocy but from a different political side.

      • In fact, let's pass a law dictating that without full immunizations your insurance company has no obligation to pay for your healthcare and help accelerate the process.

        Yes, because clearly solution to a partisan idiocy is another partisan idiocy but from a different political side.

        How is it partisan idiocy? A person has made the choice not to be vaccinated. Why should the insurance company pay for hospital treatment which, in all likelihood, could have been prevented if the person was vaccinated?

        The person made their choice. They should have to live with the consequences. Isn't that what all those "freedom" lovin yokels keep screaming? Their body, their choice?

  • How about they ban it for themselves only? Anything with mRNA they can't have. Including the recently successful cancer breakthrough that's uses mRNA. And all human blood, since it naturally contains mRNA. So no blood infusions for them.

    • How about they ban it for themselves only?

      That's not how it works. If they can't have it, neither can you. If they can't watch porn, you can't either. If they can't read a particular book, neither can you.

      You know, because of freedom.

  • Political stunt (Score:4, Insightful)

    by sinij ( 911942 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:31PM (#63312841)
    This stupid political stunt is likely designed to fail to pass but to pander to some gerrymandered district and avoid primaries.
  • ..cancers. I think the confusion is elementary schools don't teach about the difference between DNA and RNA. That's really a shame for the less well educated.

    • by pjrc ( 134994 )

      They can't even remember whatever boogeyman Fox News was scaring them about 6 months ago, so how are they ever going to consider anything from all the way back in elementary school contradicts the latest compelling political talk show drama?

  • by hdyoung ( 5182939 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:38PM (#63312861)
    To Die An Instant Death (tm). Republicans represent a lot of rural and undereducated districts. Places where the 8th grade is considered a good stopping point and getting your HS diploma is basically a higher degree. These populations simply have a bunch of bad idea and don’t filter misinformation well. And they aren’t gonna be told what todo by some liberal city folk with their advanced degrees and their actual scientific knowledge. So, they elect people to represent their ideas. The reps introduce the bills knowing full well how they look to anyone with a full education, and fully expect them to die a quick death at the statehouse. But at least the people had their chance to speak their mind and propose what they’re thinking. That’s democracy.
  • What if I load the nRNA vaccine in to an AR-15 and fire it at people. Huh? HUH???

    The GOP has become a caricature of itself. It would be hilarious if it weren't so serious. These are the people who are supposed to be in charge of educating your children and ensuring public safety.

    I must laugh, if for no other reason than to avoid heavy drinking.

  • Not helpful (Score:2, Informative)

    Using the legal system to ban everything you dislike only erodes freedom and legitimacy.

    I personally think there is some merit to cooling our collective jets on MRNA. More research seems to be warranted yet blanket bans on entire approaches is unwarranted and misguided.

    There is evidence of heart issues caused by vaccine that isn't caused by disease.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p... [nih.gov]

    There is direct lab evidence of MRNA vaccine induced injury to heart and brain tissue.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccin... [doi.org]

    There is

    • Re:Not helpful (Score:5, Informative)

      by adrn01 ( 103810 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @08:36PM (#63313013)
      "There is evidence of heart issues caused by vaccine that isn't caused by disease."
      The title of the study this link:
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p... [nih.gov]
      points to is:
      "The Incidence of Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Post COVID-19 Unvaccinated Patients"

      Wherever you got your info from, check more thoroughly before posting.
    • Using the legal system to ban everything you dislike only erodes freedom and legitimacy.

      I personally think there is some merit to cooling our collective jets on MRNA. More research seems to be warranted yet blanket bans on entire approaches is unwarranted and misguided.

      There is evidence of heart issues caused by vaccine that isn't caused by disease.

      Vaccines induce an immune response, immune responses occasionally go too far and cause problems, that's not an mRNA thing that's a vaccine thing. You never wondered why they ask you to stay for 15 minutes after getting your flu shot?

      The thing is that the benefits vastly outweigh the risks.

      As for the myocarditis, yes that is a possible side effect of the COVID vaccines, as well as COVID itself.

      The best theory I heard is one of the COVID proteins looks a bit like a protein in the heart, so when the body manuf

  • by couchslug ( 175151 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @07:55PM (#63312897)

    They cannot be reasoned with so if their choices will kill some number off I approve of the experiment.

    Not joking. Dead enemies are good news and dead fools are hilarious good news.

  • by DewDude ( 537374 ) on Tuesday February 21, 2023 @08:02PM (#63312917) Homepage

    Get all the fucking goverment out of all health care matters. Leave it to people who have scientific degrees in this shit. Very, very few people in government are qualified to make health decisions....so fucking get them out.

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