Matthew Campbell

Right. The doctor I had last month is now recovered.

Yeah, of course. So Sheridan, I don't know if we've talked about this before, but I actually lost my father from COVID in early, it was January of 2021. So maybe a month or so before the wide release of the vaccine for those early stage folks. And, um, very similar to your experience. The last memories I have with my father were dropping him off at the hospital that morning.

Yeah, of course. So Sheridan, I don't know if we've talked about this before, but I actually lost my father from COVID in early, it was January of 2021. So maybe a month or so before the wide release of the vaccine for those early stage folks. And, um, very similar to your experience. The last memories I have with my father were dropping him off at the hospital that morning.

Um, and he never, he never walked out. He never returned. I wasn't allowed to visit. I wasn't allowed to see him. My father died alone in a hospital room surrounded by medical staff, but we were not allowed to visit. Um, he was in the hospital for over a month on the ICU and there were some comorbidities, but the point still stands.

Um, and he never, he never walked out. He never returned. I wasn't allowed to visit. I wasn't allowed to see him. My father died alone in a hospital room surrounded by medical staff, but we were not allowed to visit. Um, he was in the hospital for over a month on the ICU and there were some comorbidities, but the point still stands.

At that time, in those early stages of COVID, there wasn't a solution. There wasn't easy prevention. The only option was to mask up. And unfortunately, my dad worked in a industry that he was one of those mandatory employees or essential workers. That's what they were called, essential workers. And so he went to work every day. And this was in South Carolina. He wore his mask.

At that time, in those early stages of COVID, there wasn't a solution. There wasn't easy prevention. The only option was to mask up. And unfortunately, my dad worked in a industry that he was one of those mandatory employees or essential workers. That's what they were called, essential workers. And so he went to work every day. And this was in South Carolina. He wore his mask.

He did all the things. But something that's kind of struck with me over the years was unlike other diseases and other things going on in the world, COVID felt different in the level of politicalization that surrounded it. And it became almost, I mean, I don't know if everyone remembers, but during that time, it was like wearing a mask was a political statement.

He did all the things. But something that's kind of struck with me over the years was unlike other diseases and other things going on in the world, COVID felt different in the level of politicalization that surrounded it. And it became almost, I mean, I don't know if everyone remembers, but during that time, it was like wearing a mask was a political statement.

Getting vaccinated was a political statement. And in a state like South Carolina, that is heavily leaned toward one direction or the other, you saw these areas where COVID was higher in conjunction with that political ideology or political statement.

Getting vaccinated was a political statement. And in a state like South Carolina, that is heavily leaned toward one direction or the other, you saw these areas where COVID was higher in conjunction with that political ideology or political statement.

And so I just question if we hadn't had such a widespread politicalization or division over COVID, mask mandates, vaccinations, the hoax, all of these things, Would my father still be here? I mean, we can always play that what if, but it's like from a public health standpoint, and I know not everyone is in public health, but there are things in place.

And so I just question if we hadn't had such a widespread politicalization or division over COVID, mask mandates, vaccinations, the hoax, all of these things, Would my father still be here? I mean, we can always play that what if, but it's like from a public health standpoint, and I know not everyone is in public health, but there are things in place.

There are tools we can use that are proven to prevent health. And in a time of crisis, us as public health professionals were not relied on. It quickly became, you're no longer the expert. We do not care what you think. we're gonna do something completely different. It doesn't matter. And I've experienced firsthand, Sheridan's experienced firsthand.

There are tools we can use that are proven to prevent health. And in a time of crisis, us as public health professionals were not relied on. It quickly became, you're no longer the expert. We do not care what you think. we're gonna do something completely different. It doesn't matter. And I've experienced firsthand, Sheridan's experienced firsthand.

So many other people have experienced firsthand the detriment effects of when public health doesn't do its job well, when our government leaders don't do their job well. And now we're left here four years later asking, okay, how do we move on with our life? What do we do now? And so you have that grief, but kind of like Sheridan says, My father died begging for a vaccine or treatment and a cure.

So many other people have experienced firsthand the detriment effects of when public health doesn't do its job well, when our government leaders don't do their job well. And now we're left here four years later asking, okay, how do we move on with our life? What do we do now? And so you have that grief, but kind of like Sheridan says, My father died begging for a vaccine or treatment and a cure.

It would be a slap in the face to him for me not to be vaccinated. For me, not every time they recommend I'm going to get the shot. But what I want to say is I still to this day have family members that have deeply rooted political ideology that have yet, that were very close with my father and will not get a vaccine. even though they watch the detrimental effects.

It would be a slap in the face to him for me not to be vaccinated. For me, not every time they recommend I'm going to get the shot. But what I want to say is I still to this day have family members that have deeply rooted political ideology that have yet, that were very close with my father and will not get a vaccine. even though they watch the detrimental effects.

So when we talk about this risk management, I don't think it's enough anymore to like, oh, no, we know what can happen. And people are still willing to take on that risk, it seems, for some reason. And that's all I really have to say.