By Guy Page
Wednesday’s account of a UVMMC critical care doctor venting on social media about unvaccinated patients seeking treatment in the ICU has prompted 95 comments – and counting.
One commenter notes that Dr. Gilman Allen posted on Facebook – probably in a private group – and then someone else reposted that Facebook post on Instagram. So the headline “VT Hospital doc vents on Instagram” is technically incorrect. So noted, and thanks to “Anonymous” for the correction.
Another commenter – writing under the pseudonym “UVMMC Hero to Zero” – sheds light on what it’s like to be unvaccinated and working at Vermont’s largest hospital and private employer.
Vermont Daily Chronicle has determined that “UVMMC Hero To Zero” is indeed a hospital employee. What follows is the entire, unedited online comment on Vermont Daily Chronicle to VT Hospital doc vents on Instagram against vax refusers:
“I am also an employee there and I grapple every day with needing a job and working for an institution that thinks so little of me because I am unvaccinated.
“I have felt discriminated against and shamed. I have been tested every week since October 15 and been negative every time, while my vaccinated coworkers have been sick and out of work, with URIs or getting covid despite the vaccine, out because of reactions to it, or out because their children have to go home from school due to an exposure or runny nose.
“I’ve seen coworkers go have Peace of Mind testing DAILY during the holidays who are vaxxed and wonder to myself why on earth they would do this when they are “protected”. But let’s face it, even vaccinated people are getting covid. Don’t let them tell you any different. Most with co-morbidities. Even the CDC Director came out and said 75% have 4 or more c-morbidities.
“Some are truly scared, but some have taken advantage of the fact they got Covid pay for those call outs. Now that they will have to use up their earned time first for these instances, I’m guessing people will be coming to work despite having a sniffle. I do feel bad for those with little kids who constantly have to juggle restrictions day cares and schools have put on them over simple cold or teething symptoms. The cold and flu do still exist, people.
“I take vitamin D3, zinc and magnesium, and Vit C, and have been since this all started. I also take nasal inhalers as needed and bought a nebulizer and solution, because I will not be going to the hospital if I get covid. I’ll take my chances at home and I’m quite confident I will survive it. It does, after all, have a nearly 100% survival rate. And I have plenty of unvaccinated nurse friends who would help me in a heartbeat. With that said, I do support everyone’s right to choose for themselves.”