I felt compelled to write after reading John Coster’s guest column regarding the vaccine mandate. (“Logic matters when it comes to vaccine mandates,” Dec. 6)
I am appalled that the Gazette editorial staff published this column that includes false statements apparently without any editorial oversight or standards of truth, not even a disclaimer attached to the column. If it were just a letter to the editor, I might think that they publish anyone’s rant, but running this as a “column” elevates this misinformation.
I can understand wanting to allow for debate between conservative and liberal voices, and if John Coster had stuck to advocating for individuals’ rights to not get the vaccine over the community’s rights to the public health goal of limiting exposure to the virus, that would be one thing, but to write that the vaccine “promotes genetic changes in your body” is untrue.
The mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell where our DNA (genetic material) is located, so it cannot change our genes. It is also highly irresponsible to promote the use of ivermectin to treat COVID when there are many serious side effects that people have suffered, including hospitalization, for the misuse of this medication.
I will think twice before renewing my subscription to this newspaper if this is the level of integrity I can expect to find.
Sara Nolan de Aguilar
Northampton