I read with dismay the article “Vaccine skeptic leaves hospital,” in the Morning Sentinel on Nov. 17. Rep. Randall Greenwood, fresh off the ventilator after a bout of COVID, had exercised his right to choose not to vaccinate, and suffered severe, life-threatening consequences as a result. Apparently he continues to rely on his own — and I would wager unsubstantiated — “research” for information which didn’t seem to serve him well in the first place.

It is well known that people can find anything online to reinforce their own opinions and convictions, and it is just as easy to refute and ignore truths. A public servant who touts anything other than substantiated facts and science during a pandemic does not seem to be acting in the best interests of constituents, especially when the outcome clearly illustrates a failure of one’s convictions to keep him disease free.

That being said, I appreciate the concurrent delivery of facts from retrievable, reliable sources about the COVID surge in Maine and vaccine effectiveness in the article. Maine citizens who remain unvaccinated would do well to recognize what can happen as exemplified by Rep. Greenwood.

Robin Johnson

Waterville