UNFAIR ADVANTAGE SAFE VACCINE?

Re Nov. 16 story “After nine years, a look back at the Gimenez era in MiamiDade government:” Throughout the course of the campaign for the 26th Congressional District between Carlos Gimenez and incumbent Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, news media provided daily COVID-19 updates, almost always featuring Gimenez. While the updates were important, his opponent received no mention whatsoever, except for occasional Congressional race stories. I do not understand why Gimenez did not recuse himself as spokesman and delegate it to a county commissioner. He clearly had an unfair advantage in media coverage.

Did anyone in the news media ever question this?

Meanwhile, MucarselPowell was simply doing her job in Congress. In her one term, she supported numerous environmental actions, legislation on mental health improvements, the School Act for teachers, staff and children, and expanded testing for hardto-reach communities — to contain the virus. These and other actions received minimal coverage, at best, in the daily print and broadcast media.

Hopefully, news media will review their coverage of this campaign to determine whether it was really fair. Despite this, I applaud Mucarsel-Powell for her accomplishments and urge her to continue in public service.

– Doug Greist,

Miami

Recent pharmaceuticalindustry news announcing “promising” COVID-19 vaccines sent stock markets on a joy ride and prompted a barrage of gushing media hype, with no queries about vaccine safety. This led many to believe these vaccines are the answer to COVIDrelated problems.

President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed” further enriches Pharma billionaires while rushing a taxpayer subsidized drug to market without enough time for safety tests.

What’s more, vaccine makers, already immune from liability under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, were granted expanded protection under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act for Medical Countermeasures Against COVID-19 in March.

– Karen Orr,

Gainesville