Public health

Not “ you do you “

COVID minimization is moving the mindset away from public good

This propagandist narrative aimed to achieve, not just a practical outcome, but a philosophical, political victory. It aimed to individualize a collective good that has been entrenched as a basic human right in rich societies for at least a century. It aimed to reframe disease control as something that should be a choice for each person, rather than a publicly funded collective effort.

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There are layers to how incorrect this talking point, known as “immunity debt”, is. Firstly, your immune system doesn’t need to encounter viruses to get stronger. Pathogenic microbes do not strengthen your immune system. That’s why, instead of giving kids cholera on purpose, we clean the water. Secondly, wearing a mask or doing other forms of disease mitigation does not damage your immune system. Prominent outlets, critical of Trump at the beginning of COVID, we quick to debunk this lie back in 2020. Now they promote it. 

Worth mentioning that “immunity debt” is a spinoff of the “hygiene hypothesis,” which states that the body needs to encounter beneficial bacteria. It was never intended to encompass pathogenic microbes or viruses. Anti-vaxxers were the first to push the idea that getting sick is healthy for children. Now liberals incorrectly believe it.

What does damage your immune system is COVID infection.