With news from the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) that Wyoming ranks the lowest in the nation for coronavirus vaccinations, the state’s two U.S. senators have differing thoughts on what residents should do about it.
Published
3 years agoon
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News Release
This story first appeared on Cowboy State Daily
By Ellen Fike, Cowboy State Daily
With news from the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) that Wyoming ranks the lowest in the nation for coronavirus vaccinations, the state’s two U.S. senators have differing thoughts on what residents should do about it.
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, a physician by trade, is encouraging individuals to get vaccinated while U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis said the decision is a personal one.
“Vaccines work,” Barrasso said. “If you want to protect yourself and your family, the best thing you can do is get vaccinated. I’m a doctor and I have been vaccinated, as has my wife and my adult kids. I’ll continue to encourage folks across Wyoming to talk to their doctor and get the vaccine if they are eligible.”
Barrasso spokeswoman Laura Mengelkamp told Cowboy State Daily that Barrasso has visited vaccine clinics across the state, written a column on the importance of being vaccinated, advocated for vaccines on TV, participated in public service announcements and repeatedly encouraged people on social media to get the vaccine.
A spokeswoman for Lummis said although the senator has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, she feels it is a decision that should made with input from a doctor, not the government.
“She is hopeful that with the recent full authorization of the Pfizer vaccine, people in Wyoming will discuss the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine and make the decision that is best for them and their families,” spokeswoman Abegail Cave told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday.
She noted Lummis recently signed on as a co-sponsor to a bill proposed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, which would prohibit the federal government from requiring citizens to carry proof that they have been vaccinated — so-called vaccine passports.
According to the CDC, Wyoming had 201,863 unvaccinated adults in the state, 45.36% of its population, the highest rate of unvaccinated people in the country.
West Virginia and Mississippi each owned the distinction of having the highest share of unvaccinated residents in the nation for months until Wyoming recently surpassed each state.
West Virginia is in 49th place with 44.36% of its citizens being unvaccinated while Mississippi is next at 44.20%.
Texas actually had the highest number of unvaccinated adults, with 6.6 million, but that amounted to only 30.8% of its population.
Spokespeople for Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney did not respond to Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment.
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Don White
August 25, 2021 at 9:48 am
Once again, Wyoming proves itself to be an ignorant backwater filled with paranoid hillbillies. I finally agree with Barrasso on something. Lummis is a closet Trump sycophant and a dangerous chucklehead. Jesus, she’s aligning with the Idiot Cruz, for crying out loud.
Fred Osborn
August 25, 2021 at 10:13 am
Amen to what you stated. Although agreeing with anything barrasso says is a serious matter of opinion.
James Galloway
August 25, 2021 at 11:30 am
Then move.
Don White
August 25, 2021 at 12:56 pm
What a clever and highly original retort! You’re at the top of your game.
James Galloway
August 26, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Thank you.
Harriett Oleson
August 25, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Very Snappy and well thought out indeed. Very clever!!! James
James Galloway
August 25, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Thank you.
God bless.
Mitch Smith
August 25, 2021 at 1:58 pm
Correct James!
Harriett Oleson
August 25, 2021 at 11:42 am
WOW !! Well said Don.. I have been a Wyoming resident for over 74 years. I have never been less proud of this great state than now. IT IS NOT YOUR PERSONAL RIGHT, When your actions infect and kill others, when you make your body a petri dish for the variant that will kill us all. When your decision is made by information you “heard” or read is created by some attention/money seeking malcontent on the web, IT IS NOT YOUR RIGHT, TO RISK OTHER LIVES FOR POLITICS. If you feel reinforced by some trump sycophant like Lummis who is playing you for a sucker to get your vote, you are Wrong, not Right. Do you really think those internet “doctors” or Lummis give a hoot if you live or die. Really ????
James Galloway
August 25, 2021 at 5:48 pm
It’s almost your time. Seek Jesus.
Sam Grover
August 25, 2021 at 7:39 pm
I better not se you driving a car. Ever. My family’s life is too valuable to be risked by you making a wrong turn. How dare you put my family’s life at risk just because you don’t want to find alternative means to get to the store.
Harriet Oleson
August 26, 2021 at 8:44 am
What in the world are you talking about????
Larry Rayburn
August 25, 2021 at 11:00 am
I agree with both of the previous comments. Look at how our infection rates continue to rise while our vaccination rates drop. Masks and vaccines should be mandated for anyone to leave their homes much less social gatherings. WY acts like there is nothing going on until one of them faces death at the hands of Covid. Wake up!
Danielle Laslie
August 25, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Um sorry but it’s not your job to tell me to get a vaccine that is still less than a year old. And as someone who can’t have something on my face, I think it’s my choice to wear a mask or not. So if you are so afraid you wear a mask and get vaccinated have fun. I’ve had Covid and I’m fine.
Candace Larizza
August 25, 2021 at 2:58 pm
Your poor choices are putting your fellow community members at risk, threatening to overwhelm out healthcare system, and prolonging this stupid pandemic. I’m glad covid didn’t personally affect you too bad, but it ain’t all about you.
Danielle Laslie
August 25, 2021 at 4:12 pm
And it’s not my job to protect you. If your mask and vaccine work then I don’t need it.
Candace Larizza
August 25, 2021 at 5:03 pm
My mask and my vaccination is meant to protect YOU and stop the spread of this virus. How so many refuse to acknowledge this after almost 2 years of this crap is beyond me.
James Galloway
August 25, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Wait a minute. There is no pandemic.
Harriett Oleson
August 25, 2021 at 4:28 pm
I am really glad you had Covid and are fine. Wish my 5 friends who died from Covid, here in Sheridan had been as lucky as you. Did you ever think that you as an unvaccinated petri dish might have spread it to anyone who died????? Is that really your choice alone???? Really, are you that heartless??
Danielle Laslie
August 26, 2021 at 1:42 pm
With all due respect I never left my house as soon as I got sneezed on by someone here in Sheridan who was Covid positive. I self quarantined. So doubtful that anyone got it from me. Nice try through. And by the way the person who sneezed on me had a mask on as did I.
Mark Steingass
August 25, 2021 at 12:00 pm
caseload matters…not even close to peak flu season yet
Don White
August 25, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Apples. Oranges. Not even relevant.
Mark Steingass
August 25, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Don…Apples. Oranges. not relevant?…read remarks by Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist in September 30th 2020 Sheridan Media article titled “State Health Director Discusses Flu Season”
Danielle Laslie
August 25, 2021 at 2:08 pm
Because Wyoming believes it’s a persons right to chose what they do. One of the last states with a brain.
Fred Osborn
August 26, 2021 at 8:52 am
That is a matter of opinion.
Danielle Laslie
August 26, 2021 at 1:43 pm
Maybe to you l, but it’s my body my choice. I won’t get the vaccine and I won’t wear a mask. My right as an American to make that choice. It’s not your choice
Hugh Jardonn
August 25, 2021 at 2:15 pm
You reap what sow. Maybe Tractor Supply has some dewormer for them.
James Galloway
August 25, 2021 at 5:41 pm
It’s the flu. Main stream media is propaganda. God gave me an immune system. Smith+Mundt act.
Fred Osborn
August 26, 2021 at 8:53 am
God also gave people like you a brain…which obviously goes unused.
Donna Smith
August 25, 2021 at 6:20 pm
I am really disheartened to continually read nasty and derogatory comments back and forth between “vaccinated” and “unvaccinated” individuals. When did we as a community and a country become so intent on attacking each other. Let’s all come to terms with the fact that COVID-19 is here to stay and the VACCINATED and UNVACCINATED alike are still spreading the virus. If you don’t believe me, please do your own research. There are numerous articles such as, “CDC: Fully vaccinated can spread the Delta variant; infectious disease experts point to variant’s characteristics”, which detail the science. Just because you are fully vaccinated does not make you bullet proof. You can still contract and spread COVID. In the last 30 days, vaccinated individuals accounted for 28.1% of all hospitalized COVID patients in Michigan and we are seeing similar numbers all over the country. Whether people choose to vaccinate or not IS a very personal choice. There are a lot of factors that go into making that decision for yourself and your family. So, please the next time you want to jump on a keyboard and call people “paranoid hillbillies” maybe take a pause and consider that just because it’s your way doesn’t mean that it’s the right way for someone else. Remember that this is a pandemic, it is horrific, it is scary, it may be one of the hardest things we will ever live through, but it doesn’t have to make us heartless!!!
Mark Steingass
August 26, 2021 at 5:45 pm
there is some truth in what you say but not much wisdom because if countless individuals continue their “free choice” to remain unvaccinated as a “personal choice” the virus will be more frequently passed from one person to another which allows the virus to more freely mutate to a point it will evade the effectiveness of a vaccine…viruses are always looking for a good “host home” in which to replicate themselves…weird but true
Terry Moore
August 28, 2021 at 11:59 am
Ignorance is always noisy.
Neil Schicke
August 26, 2021 at 7:56 am
If you look at the background of people that are against vaccine’s and science, you can see that they are usually conspiracy theorists, self centered, and are the lower educated people in Wyoming.
They have little world experience and intellectual capacity to evaluate and understand rationale information. They just follow false information and “Big Lie’s” spread by twisted people and politicians that play to their ignorance.
Fred Osborn
August 26, 2021 at 8:55 am
Agreed,it’s not hard to tell which idiots listen to the brainwashing “news” sources the right spits out.