“Agents”? “Compel”?

Last night, from Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r):

Governor Mike Parson @GovParsonMO
I have directed our health department to let the federal government know that sending government employees or agents door-to-door to compel vaccination would NOT be an effective OR a welcome strategy in Missouri!
7:47 PM · Jul 7, 2021

Also, what an asshole.

Some of the responses:

Wait. I thought they were coming door to door to take our guns. You said!

Congrats, Governor. You have successfully shut down the Feds from forcing people to be vaccinated. Excuse me—when did the feds say they were going to do that?? Grow a pair & encourage people to get the vaccine. ERs are filling up again.

What exactly is your strategy?

REALLY? I guess being put on a ventilator is a welcomed strategy in MO?

Governor – this is such an irresponsible statement. You are stoking the fire of fear when our state is a hot spot. The same fear that is stopping our friends & families from getting the vaccine. Here I’ll fix it. “If you can’t travel you will be able to get vaccinated!”

If people just cared about each other we wouldn’t even be here in the first place. I demand @GovParsonMO televise his support for the vaccine to turn this tide and get us back to normal. This is embarrassing.

Yeah because when they open fire due to all the vaccine fear mongering, we can’t cooperate with federal authorities for violent gun crime.

Save me Jesus.

We see what you did there.

A waste of money is paying politicians with zero medical knowledge to handle a public health crisis like Covid. Last year more people died than were born in Missouri. If this keeps up, we will make that 2 yrs on a row. Think.

What strategies are you suggesting that the federal govt try since our state govt has failed to use any effective strategies to eliminate this virus? Seems like getting the vaccine is the best and easiest way to get out of this mess. Much easier to prevent Covid than treat it.

Please yell it loud enough for the poor communities/minorities in the back that don’t have easy access to vaccines and that have also been disproportionately affected by covid during the pandemic. Please tell them louder that you don’t care about them and their health.

Translation: “I have decided to lie like a lying liar about the intent of the federal government sending Health Care workers door-to-door to offer vaccinations & make getting a vaccination easier/safer in Missouri since we’re in an escalating death spiral of Covid infections”

Wow, hospitals in Springfield are begging for ventilators. We haven’t even seen the 4th of July surge yet. Missouri is a disaster and you’re the one that didn’t want mask mandates and thought it was a hoax.

You know, it would be really great if the governor of this state helped counter the crazy anti-vaccine mania that we see all over rural Missouri. That’d be great. Since you went without masks all the time you were saying to wear them, people are skeptical.

Sorry Gov, I guess not everyone is on board with your “let the poors die already” plan.

I don’t see how turning down federal assistance benefits Missourians especially when they’re trying to help people breathe.

they are NOT compelling anyone to do anything… they are offering another option and assisting those needing it. Words matter. please stop

It’s a good thing to inform people of the benefits of getting the vaccine. No one is forcing anyone to get it, if you could please just do your job and help people that would be great!

Let me score a cheap political point first, then as a side note say something about getting the vaccine and in an even more understated way, encourage people to get vaccinated in the sub-sub tweet so as not to offend my voting base who have been misinformed and brainwashed.

You misspoke Gov, you meant to say Offer… not Compel. For those who want the vaccine but can’t get to a location, this is a blessing.

The reality, from President Joe Biden (D):

Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program

[….]
But our fight against this virus is not over. Right now, as I speak to you, millions of Americans are still unvaccinated and unprotected. And because of that, their communities are at risk. Their friends are at risk. The people they care about are at risk. This is an even bigger concern because of the Delta variant.

In today’s briefing, we discussed how the Delta variant is already responsible for half of all cases in many parts of this country. It’s more easily transmissible, potentially more dangerous. And it should be — because of reconsideration and —

Look, let me put it another way: It seems to me that it should cause everybody to think twice. And it should cause reconsideration, especially in young people who may have thought that they didn’t have to be vaccinated, didn’t have to worry about it, didn’t have to do anything about it up to now.

But the good news is that our vaccinations are highly effective. Fully vaccinated Americans have a high degree of protection, including against this Delta variant.

Study after study after study has shown that, since early May, virtually every COVID-19 hospitalization and death in the United States has been among the unvaccinated.

So, if you’re vaccinated, you’re protected. But if you’re unvaccinated, you’re not, and you’re putting yourself and more importantly maybe, from your perspective, your family and your friends at risk.

So, please get vaccinated now. It works. It’s free. And it’s never been easier, and it’s never been more important. Do it now — for yourself and the people you care about; for your neighborhood; for your country. It sounds corny, but it’s a patriotic thing to do.

In today’s briefing, we discussed how our administration is going to devote the remainder of the summer to a special focus on five ways to make gains in getting those of you who are unvaccinated, vaccinated.

Because here’s the deal: We are continuing to wind down the mass vaccination sites that did so much in the spring to rapidly vaccinate those eager to get their first shot — and their second shot, for that matter, if they needed a second.

Now we need to go to community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, and oftentimes, door to door — literally knocking on doors — to get help to the remaining people protected from the virus.

Look, equity, equality — it remains at the heart of our responsibility of ensuring that communities that are the hardest hit by the virus have the information and the access to get vaccinated.
[….]

Nothing about “agents” or “compel” in there.

More of the Twitter responses to Missouri Governor Mike Parson (r):

The risk of getting the vax? Becoming a rational adult who grasps scientific facts!

“I am determined to keep our vaccination rate low!! I want my citizens to die!” [….]

Big surge in Springfield! Big big surge in the non-vaccinated population of Springfield Missouri! Will you let the federal government come in and help with that?

Imagine Branson is 45 minutes South and COVID can be spread to all of your incoming guests and they can receive a free case of Delta Variant Covid courtesy of the Show Me State. to take home with them when they depart. The gift that keeps on giving.

Can we get some of those cool mobile units though? It’s as American as an ice cream truck, but for saving lives! Pretty please.

They have to do something since the state government has failed to convey to people how important it is to be vaccinated! Too many people don’t seem to understand the science or the need for everyone to do the right thing & get vaccinated if you want this to end!

Mike Parson works for the virus.

No one is being “compelled.” This inflammatory rhetoric reinforces the paranoia about getting vaccinated. And that same federal govt. that you disparage is sending workers to help deal with the overwhelming # of Covid cases in Springfield. This is just tragic.

Some science and common sense would be a welcome strategy in Missouri. [….]

Yes, fear mongering and utter apathy towards the issue is working splendidly.

Wow! You are actively making it harder for folks to get vaccinated. What is your problem @GovParsonMO

See above.

Has anyone told you we are leading the nation in new cases of the Delta variant? And that 99% of recent deaths could have been prevented with the vaccine? Can you step aside and let someone smarter take over?

It will be a strategy something that is lacking here at MO.
What is your strategy? Waiting? What actions have you done since June to get ppl vaccinated (Twitter doesn’t count). [….]

Mr. Biden never said door to door workers would COMPEL the vaccine. There may be homebound people who need someone to come to them.

See above.

What news source are you listening to and why do you choose to continue to be manipulated by it?

Just a guess:

At this point, you need to do whatever necessary to get people vaccinated. What you’ve been doing clearly is not working.

Do we still have a health department?

By “compel” do you mean asking people who can’t get to the pharmacy if they would like to one?

No one in government is “compelling” shots. That is not a thing.

Calm down chief, it’s just an outreach campaign.

He already knew that. And yet…

GovMike, where exactly did the DOH say it was going to force anyone to do anything?
We’ll wait.

Stop using the word compel. You know that’s not going to happen.

What do you suggest? What you’re doing isn’t working.

I wonder what he would say if he needed more than just his base to get elected? Or like, be a governor for his constituents?

So, what’s your plan to save lives? Or do you even care to save lives?

Governor- Your fears are sprouting fears. Might want to get that checked.

Of course not! Do nothing, that’s so much easier!

I think that doing literally ANYTHING at this point is a great idea. What are you doing to raise vaccination rates? Because what you’re doing right now ISN’T WORKING.

I mean, your strategy is totally working right? We’re not having issues with getting people vaccinated, right?

Is the verb compel or is it offer?

No one is going to compell vaccination, stop the fear mongering.

So…..do you have a better idea?

A perfect strategy in Missouri’s never-ending race to the bottom.

Imagine having a platform and opportunity to help save lives and choosing not to.

I’ll never understand that kind of evil.

Do you have a strategy or are you praying it away?

You know they are not compelling anyone to do anything. What an irresponsible comment. Your incompetence is costing lives, resources, dollars.

And on and on…

Previously:

Meanwhile, this is Missouri (July 5, 2021)

Meanwhile, in Springfield, Missouri (July 6, 2021)