Me vs. Anti-Vaxxers

When out last night, I was invited to sit with a group of people at a bar patio. They had always been nice to me, but I didn't know them a great deal. The banter was light for a few minutes, but then the topic of vaccines arose, and my, oh, my, that was something. Apparently, they're all anti-vaxxers. Here's how that portion of the conversation went.

MAGA #1: "Did any of you get the flu vaccine? It's so useless. I'm proud to say I never got any COVID vaccine."

MAGA #2: "Same here. I don't trust the government. Did you get one?"

MAGA #3: "Oh, heavens, no. Nuh uh. Did you?"

Me: "Heck yes!"

MAGA #1: "I just read that there's a link between the COVID vaccine and ADHD."

Me: "That's false. :: shows him a study, debunking his claim ::"

MAGA #1: "That's your opinion. I feel differently."

Me: "No, it's been debunked. Your opinion is wrong."

MAGA #1: "Whatever, dude. I know people who died because of the vaccine. It killed more people than it saved."

Me: "Jebus, are you being serious right now? :: pulls out some more links, debunking every one of his claims ::"

MAGA #1: "Whatever. I know people, who got vaccinated, that died."

Me: "The COVID vaccine isn't a cure; it's a preventative, aimed at decreasing severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths. There's a direct link between an increase in vaccinations and a decrease in severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths."

MAGA #1: "What about Anthony Fauci? Do you like him?"

Me: "I respect him a great deal, yes."

MAGA #1: "Jesus, dude..."

MAGA #4: "He's a crook. He got rich because of COVID. His wife was in charge of approving the Pfizer vaccine."

Me: "Once again, those allegations are false. :: pulls out links, debunking her claims ::"

MAGA #4: "How can you trust him?"

Me: "Okay, let me ask you a question: What did you think about Ronald Reagan, as a president?"

MAGA #4: "I thought he was a good president."

Me: "Okay, Dr. Fauci worked under Reagan - the first of 7 presidents, from both sides of the aisle, he worked for. What about George H.W. Bush? Did you think he was a good president too?"

MAGA #4: "Yes"

Me: "Fauci worked under him as well. How about George W. Bush?"

MAGA #4: "Yes"

Me: "Not only did Fauci work for him, Bush honored him with a Presidential Medal of Freedom."

MAGA #4: "Just because a person did good in the past, doesn't mean they can't do something in the future to disrupt all that."

Me: "Okay, that's true. So, what did Fauci did after working with 7 presidents, to warrant these allegations of yours?"

MAGA #4: "I don't know, but it should be investigated."

Me: "So, none of you here know what it is Dr. Fauci did to warrant your allegations of criminal behavior? Interesting..."

MAGA #2: "Anyway, nice night, isn't it?"