Dr. Monica Gandhi: Californians Cast a "Referendum on Illiberal Liberals"

Published: Sept. 21, 2021, 1:47 p.m.

b'Dr. Monica Gandhi toured the landscape with us. The recent recall of California Governor Gavin Newsom has bipartisan roots, in dissatisfaction with the \\u201clockdown mentality\\u201d that closed playgrounds and parks, and kept San Francisco\\u2019s schools shuttered for 18 months. It was to a significant degree a \\u201creferendum on the illiberal liberals.\\u201d Once \\u201cthe power of vaccines\\u201d came into force, however, California pioneered mandates, passports, and expanded testing; achieved over 80% vaccine coverage; and drove cases and deaths to exceptional lows. The future?\\xa0\\u201cImmunity is the path out\\u201d to achieve control over Covid-19. Big concerns? Confused messaging around boosters terrifies the vaccinated and makes the unvaccinated believe less in vaccines. We are also witnessing rising intolerance: in our politically polarized debates over schools, vaccines, masks, and boosters, scientific discourse has lost balance and nuance.\\xa0\\xa0\\nDr.Monica Gandhi is Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital. She also serves as the medical director of the HIV Clinic at SFGH, the famous \\u201cWard 86.\\u201d'