If it quacks like a duck…

September 21, 2025

Another in a series of observations of life as I know it.

Eye of newt, and toe of frog,

Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

-William Shakespeare

~~~~~

Last Thursday, I availed myself of the influenza and Covid vaccines. Just in case. Wait, what? Well, Bobby Kennedy’s Anti-Vaccine group has been meeting at the CDC in Atlanta, making unnecessary (and unethical) changes to the vaccine schedules for adults, children and infants. Why? Because they can. That’s the best answer I can come up with. If you’ve got better info, let me know.

Earlier this week, there was reputable reporting from a major news source that encouraged folks over 65, like me, to put our walkers into 5th gear and go directly to CVS or Walgreens to get a shot. Pronto. Recently, on the CVS app, it was unclear whether or not vaccines would be administered to the public. Particularly those in the AARP crowd. With a slender window appearing online, perhaps by mistake, I signed up. And took a jab in each arm, for flu and Covid. I was not alone. Half of the town of Harwich turned out to wait in line.

So here’s the thing. Well researched and reliable vaccines should be available to all. Measles, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, flu and now, Covid. That’s the crux of the matter. But of more importance, scientists with actual epidemiology expertise should be on the Vaccine Board, as they have been in years past. Larry, Moe and Curly, with specialties in voodoo and toenail fungus, should not be making recommendations to anyone at all. Where is Marcus Welby when we need him?

I survived the horrors of the Covid pandemic. And I am enormously grateful. Several friends did not. Vaccines, not bleach and sunlight, gave all of us hope and health. A chance to see tomorrow. If Bob Kennedy wants to shoot up with e-Coli infused toilet water, have at it. But I will not accept any recommendations from anyone who would rather prescribe eye of newt with a vodka chaser. Not gonna happen. That inane man is a menace to society.

Here’s the situation in which we find ourselves in September of 2025. Senator/Dr Bill Cassidy sat on the Senate committee that approved RFK Jr. It was a regrettable performance at best, and farcical at worst. Cassidy, a hepatology specialist who should know better, voted to elevate Kennedy to the C suite at HHS. The good doctor is now suffering the slings and arrows of buyer’s remorse. RFK is the president’s man. Thanks to the likes of the hapless Cassidy, who knew better and still toed the party line in obeisance to his master’s voice. Frankly, doc, the AMA ought to revoke your license. You have no business practicing medical politics, which you have discovered leads to lethal consequences. Malfeasance in politics is to be expected. But malpractice is another matter. I wouldn’t ask Senator/Dr Cassidy for a bandaid, much less a flu shot. Peddle your snake oil serum elsewhere.