Baylor College of Medicine Prof. Peter Hotez urged podcaster Joe Rogan to help him combat COVID-19 misinformation following the death of a prominent Texas anti-masker.
Dr. Hotez made his comments following the death of anti-masker Caleb Wallace, who had organized against public health measures during the pandemic.
Caleb Wallace's wife Jessica posted a brief update on the fundraiser she set up for COVID-19 related medical bills: "Caleb has peacefully passed on. He will forever live in our hearts and minds " The anti-vaxxer activist leaves behind his pregnant wife and three girlshttps://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1431218352903573507\u00a0\u2026— Robbin Simmons (@Robbin Simmons) 1630187514
Dr. Hotez posted a link to a Raw Story article on Wallace's death with a message to Rogan.
"My Texas brother. Can't help but think if I had the opportunity to sit with him and his family. I might have explained he was being targeted by groups only interested in hanging on to power here in Texas, and that they don't care about him or his family," Hotez wrote.
"Reaching out yet again to my brother [Joe Rogan] this is a life we could have saved. It's not too late, let's talk to nation, I believe we literally could save thousands of lives in Texas just sitting in your place in Austin talking this through," he wrote.
Dr. Hotez also replied to somebody who commented on his post.
"My son listens to Joe Rogan and refuses to get a vaccine. He's responsible for millions of young men not getting the vaccine," Lori Rice-Spring wrote.
Dr. Hotez replied it was "also unfair to pin this on Joe, but I believe if he would agree we could make a pretty good dent, and literally save thousands of lives. What's going on now in these parts, Texas, is just the warm up act. I've seen the models, 800,000 deaths by Dec 1."
Reaching out yet again to my brother @joerogan this is a life we could have saved. It\u2019s not too late, let\u2019s talk to nation, I believe we literally could save thousands of lives in Texas just sitting in your place in Austin talking this through.— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD) 1630195039
Thanks @loriricespring also unfair to pin this on Joe, but I believe if he would agree we could make a pretty good dent, and literally save thousands of lives. What\u2019s going on now in these parts, Texas, is just the warm up act. I\u2019ve seen the models, 800,000 deaths by Dec 1https://twitter.com/loriricespring/status/1431769452681568259\u00a0\u2026— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD) 1630195845
