More than 200,000 people have died from COVID-19 infections that could have been prevented by vaccination and other public health measures [1]. At least ten of these deaths occurred among unvaccinated individuals who had loudly proclaimed their opposition through news and/or social media outlets. In September 2021, Paste Magazine reported:
In recent weeks, at least 7 different anti-vaccine and anti-mask conservative activists have ultimately died in hospital settings from COVID-19 and its complications. The men were radio hosts Bob Enyart, Phil Valentine, Marc Bernier and Dick Farrel, along with former CIA officer/conspiracy theorist Robert David Steele, South Carolina GOP leader Pressley Stutts, and anti-vaccine activist Caleb Wallace. All had used their platforms to push various bits of misinformation about the virus, masks and the vaccines, and all were ultimately brought low by the very virus they refused to take seriously. Sadly, several recanted of their anti-vaccine stances in particular before passing away, but by then it was too late [2].
Other unvaccinated radio hosts who died from COVID include Ted Tucker [3], Jimmy DeYoung Sr. [3], Douglas Kuzma [4], and Marcus Lamb [5].
Wikipedia has additional background information on this subject [6].
References
- Hotez PJ. The Deadly Disease of Anti-Science: A Scientist’s Warning. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2023.
- Votel J. At least 7 anti-vaccine, anti-mask conservative activists have died of COVID-19 in recent weeks, Paste Magazine, Sept 16, 2021.
- Ecarma C, Anti-vax radio hosts keep dying from COVID. Vanity Fair, Sept 3, 2021.
- Petrizzo Z, Venarchik A. Anti-vax radio host who got COVID at QAnon-friendly conference dies. The Daily Beast, Jan 6, 2022.
- Fitsimons T. Anti-vaccine Christian broadcaster Marcus Lamb dies at 64 after contracting Covid. NNC Ne ws, Nov 20, 2021.
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Deaths of anti-vaccine advocates from COVID-19. Wikipedia, accessed Oct 18, 2023.
