Just in: San Francisco Symphony conductor resigns over vaccine policy

Just in: San Francisco Symphony conductor resigns over vaccine policy

News

norman lebrecht

August 21, 2021

The Swedish conductor Ragnar Bohlin has resigned abruptly as choirmaster and conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He will leave the job next week.

Bohlin, 56, has been in charge of the chorus since 2007, winning a Grammy the following year for his work on Mahler’s eighth symphony.

The stated reason for his resignation is the Symphony’s requirement for proof of vaccination for all staff and visitors, as mandated by the city of San Francisco.

Bohlin is a vocal opponent of Covid vaccination.

He is the first conductor to resign over the issue.

 

Comments

  • Stephen Owades says:

    He’s a fine conductor and the SFS Chorus members seem to love working with him, but I (as a long-time member of a peer group, the Boston Symphony’s Tanglewood Festival Chorus) would not be willing to sing in a rehearsal room with unvaccinated colleagues—especially not the conductor. I can’t imagine why Mr Bohlin is so adamantly anti-vax, but his departure is the inevitable result.

    • Pam says:

      I am sorry but I don’t understand the logic here! So you will be ok singing next to vaccinated people who might be shedding and spreading the virus (which by the way is mutating to easily avoid this pointless gene therapy) but you won’t be ok being in a room with unvaccinated people who will be tested and most likely healthy??? Where is the logic here, seriously? We are laughing at Republicans for believing absurd things (as we should) but then democrats believe all this nonsense that the liberal media is spreading to fulfill some money making agenda of few organizations and individuals… c’mon guys, let’s start thinking here and not allow fear divide us.

      • Bill says:

        Gene therapy? The mRNA vaccines do not change your genes. If they did, the same would be true of being infected by the virus.

        • Robin says:

          We’re actually not sure about this at this point in time – the jury is out on this. We do know that the spike protein are being witnessed to accumulate in the bone marrow, brain, heart, ovaries and testes. There are no long-term safety studies. Mice, civets and ferrets got inflamed when exposed to the wild virus post-injection in the early 2000s. Ferrets died in 2012 when exposed to the wild virus post-injection.

          • Amos says:

            Another idiotic pseudo-science post. Sorry but all mRNA does is translate the protein it codes for it does not integrate into DNA. The mRNA technology was not in existence in the 2000s. Last, the spike protein produced via translation in muscle cells does not accumulate anywhere it is processed by APCs and presented to CD4 Tcells and stimulates B cells which express sIgG specific for SP. Discuss what you know not science.

          • David says:

            Again, Roman, you have not read that article have you? Why do you keep citing sources that actually argue against your beliefs? What is the point of citing if it only makes you look uncredibly and downright illiterate.

      • Vincent Freeman says:

        What on earth are you talking about? The vaccine is not gene therapy. Moreover, you use of the word “therapy” in this context makes neither clinical nor public health sense. Lastly, the city’s ordinance prohibits residents from submitting negative Covid test results as a substitute to vaccination. So there won’t be a population of unvaccinated choristers and other musicians getting regularly tested for Covid.

      • Tom says:

        I don’t know Mr. Owades, but perhaps he recognizes that he might be shedding and doesn’t wish to endanger the health of unvaccinated colleagues.

      • violafan says:

        “pointless gene therapy”

        You are a moron.

        I’m glad idiots like you won’t be allowed indoors in my city.

      • SMH says:

        If there’s a breakthrough infection in a vaccinated person they are less contagious and contagious for a shorter period than the unvaxxed. For performers who cannot do their jobs with a mask on the vaccine and testing are essential.

        • Hayne says:

          Sure, just ask people in Israel and Iceland, some of the most vaccinated people in the world about being less contagious.

          • Amos says:

            Comrade H facts please. In Iceland 70% of the population are vaccinated and over 3X more breakthrough infections occur in unvaccinated individuals and 99% that require hospitalization are UNvaccinated. No more Ron Johnson factoids.

          • James says:

            New data out today in Israel shows that just 0.2pc of those who have had a booster shot have caught Covid (and many vaccines require three shots). Most of those in serious condition in Israeli hospitals are young and unvaccinated. Israel data furthermore shows you are 20 times more likely to catch Covid if you are unvaccinated.

          • Hayne says:

            Israel is 80% vaccinated. The ones who are in hospitals are mostly elderly. It’s vaccinated who are getting sick there.

      • Travis says:

        Except that isnt a pointless gene therapy, the technology (mRNA vaccination) was developed in the 1980s and thoroughly tested and is quite safe (as safe as any other vaccine, and those are safe enough that the potential for side affects to be DWARFED by the good of not getting the disease), and it will keep quickly mutating until we vaccinate enough people that it cant rapidly spread. And before you even start with “i did some research” no, no you fucking didnt. You arent qualified to do research on this topic. You are not an epidemiologist. Youre some chuckledick on the internet. You are part of the problem. Get your fucking shot, Karen, err, “Pam”. Or are youlonging for the good old days of people dying of preventable diseases? If so, fuck you, you ignorant piece of shit.

      • Jenni Li says:

        Why do you assume they will be “most likely tested and mostly healthy”? That’s really showing bias.

        Indeed the vaccinated person “might” be spreading the virus. But the Odds that are you doing so if you are vaccinated are lower. The correlation between states and areas that are in crisis mode vs those that are not is a direct one-to-one with the states with the most vaxxing. No vaccine is a forcefield. Vaccinated people are still going to get sick, but the chance is reduced. Sort of like the way you can still die in an auto accident with seatbelts and air bags, but you odds will be greatly reduced. And someone can drive without seatbelts and an airbag and be a horrific automobile accident and survive (teenaged George Lucas comes to mind), but the odds are greatly lower.

        Now can you understand the “logic” here? It’s the same reason at casinos and racetracks certain numbers or horses pay out a lot and others pay out very little. The odds of you hitting one that pays out a lot are very low; the odds of you being in the dull gray middle are very high.

        If you still don’t understand it, you very seriously should not have been graduated from the 5th grade. Like about half of all Americans, sadly.

        • Hayne says:

          If you are vaccinated and then become infected you MAY have a higher risk of becoming a superspreader because you are less likely to show disease. This has not been measured but should be.

      • B says:

        Stop pretending to be a Democrat.

      • Tom Clowes says:

        Pam, your assertions are not factually based.

      • Eric says:

        If we all vaccinate, we’ll all be a lot safer. There’s a reason the new-infection rate and, most importantly, the death rate is so much higher in low-vaxed areas. I think you must be a right wing interloper or you wouldn’t be so glib about spreading such easily-dismantles arguments.

        • Robin says:

          Not really. Have you looked at the death and serious injuries statistics from these injections? The childrenshealthdefense site shows updated CDC VAERS reporting data every Friday. 6,000 injection deaths, 37,000 serious injuries, 464,000 adverse events. The European reporting is via the EudraVigilance site – up to almost 2 million adverse events reported. Many countries reporting deaths and injuries from the injections.

          • MK says:

            Oh the children’s health defense. Sounds good but it’s a conspiracy website, not anything based on science or facts. Sadly RFK jr is the chief anti vaxer here and he’s been banned from posting his garbage on many social media platforms. But it’s a nice fancy name.

          • Hayne says:

            Isn’t it great to ban and censor doctors and scientists who challange the narrative? Thank god for big tech, media and governments. They’re looking out for our interests!

          • Amos says:

            Comrade H the only people being censured, not censored, are those like you spouting garbage whose only motivation is in spreading disinformation and racking up virtual currency for their efforts.

      • Jim C. says:

        Vaccinated people don’t spread it as much.

      • John R says:

        Pam—pure conjecture, on your part, re: “to fulfill some money making agenda”.
        Your assumption is basically how conspiracy theories get started.

      • MK says:

        Pam, even if you are vaccinated, I’ve been required to get Covid tests before any musical job. So there is double protection.

    • TruthSeeker says:

      “I can’t imagine why Mr. Bohlin is so adamantly anti-vax.”
      Maybe because it is killing people. Injuries and deaths from this experimental shot have already killed and injured more people in the US and Europe then all other vaccines for the previous 20 years combined.

      • Jim C. says:

        You people are delusional. The vaccines are perfectly safe.

        You’re just trying to make a political point against the “libs.”

      • TruthKnower says:

        “Maybe because it is killing people. Injuries and deaths from this experimental shot have already killed and injured more people in the US and Europe then all other vaccines for the previous 20 years combined.”

        Just take the horse dewormer, but leave the rest of us alone:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_FR7lJLWcA

        • Hayne says:

          Did you know about 40% of all drugs are repurposed for other diseases?

          • Brettermeier says:

            “Did you know”

            Yes, we all know you “know” a lot of poppycock. What strikes me as noteworthy is your overadvertising of that fact.

        • The Thinker says:

          The vaccine is perfectly safe and effective. The Pfizer vaccine was given its full approval from the FDA. What conspiracy will you spread next. Get the shot you coward.

      • Will Wilkin says:

        The CDC says that “Reports of death after COVID-19 vaccination are rare. More than 357 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through August 16, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 6,789 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. FDA requires healthcare providers to report any death after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, even if it’s unclear whether the vaccine was the cause. Reports of adverse events to VAERS following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem.”

    • TruthSeeker says:

      “I can’t imagine why Mr. Bohlin is so adamantly anti-vax.” Maybe because it’s killing people. In the US and Europe more people have died then in all of the previous 20 years of vaccine deaths.

    • Minnesota says:

      Yes, and good riddance.

    • Peter says:

      I love how “anti-vax” went from being someone totally opposed to all vaccines, even for their own children, to someone who does not want to take -one- specific vaccine.

      You love music, you say? But you didn’t go to the Wagner performance tonight? Makes you anti-music, then!

    • John R says:

      And, as fine a choral conductor as he may be, there are, even now, finer!
      TOTALLY REPLACEABLE!
      (Always sad when a respected exponent of one particular discipline (Eg: music) is not, AT LEAST, intelligent in other areas…)

    • Dr. Birchley Poundbottom says:

      I would not want to be in the same room as those filthy disease-spreading unvaccinated either. It would be even better if they lived apart in their own neighbourhoods, to keep our pure children safe.

  • Truth over facts says:

    Some people have something called survival instinct. Good for him.

  • Paul Dawson says:

    Sad and utterly pointless. His employers have no discretion in vaccination policy. That is mandated by the city. The ripples resulting from this resignation will make no impact outside the classical music world and precious little within.

    • pvl says:

      It is NOT mandated by the city of San Francisco, CA

      • Paul Dawson says:

        I am curious as to which part of “The stated reason for his resignation is the Symphony’s requirement for proof of vaccination for all staff and visitors, as mandated by the city of San Francisco.” you do not understand.

        Do you have evidence to the contrary? If so, please share.

      • Matt says:

        It is very much mandated by the city, announced on August 12, 2021, and went into effect on August 20th. Source: https://sfmayor.org/article/san-francisco-require-proof-vaccination-entry-certain-indoor-businesses-and-all-large-indoor

        “Mayor London N. Breed and Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax announced today that San Francisco will require businesses in certain high-contact indoor sectors, such as those that serve food or drink like bars, restaurants, clubs, theaters and entertainment venues, as well as indoor gyms and other fitness establishments, to obtain proof of vaccination from their patrons and employees in order for them to go inside those facilities.”

  • Barry Guerrero says:

    And how is that laxed Covid policy workin’ out for you in Sweden, hmmm? . . . .

    • Roman says:

      According to official data, ~0.14% of population of Sweden died of Covid. In the UK, ~0.2% of population died of Covid. It looks like Sweden’s policies are working relatively good, no?

      • Morgan says:

        For Sweden it was a viable, if still controversial way to go. Apply the same approach in the U.K. and the outcome would have been more severe.

        To name just one aspect : More than half of Swedish households are single -person , the highest proportion in the EU.

      • John R says:

        Check out comparative density of populations and remarks of Swedish govt. officials re: MISTAKES MADE THERE.

  • SMH says:

    I have zero tolerance for people who are unvaccinated yet cannot perform their job with a mask on: singers, brass and woodwind players. etc. Get vaxxed or get out.

    • PK says:

      Wow, seriously? And I have zero tolerance for fear induced stupidity. How about a policy to forbid vaccinated people entering public spaces, to work etc. as they can pose danger to public health as they are being treated with ineffective experimental treatment which maybe can contribute the virus mutation and spread. How does that sound? You are vaxxed?!-get out! Horrible right? Don’t treat people in a way you don’t want to be treated. And let’s think logically here, casses were decreasing before vaccination with careful monitoring, masks and tests. The moment people got a vaccine they thought: yay, I can remove my mask because I trust CDC, Faucci and co.” Well guess what, not only the treatment didn’t seem to work, which wasn’t a surprise considering that Faucci couldn’t get this technology patented twice a few years back lol. And yes it is on the government websites (not the antivaxers nonsense) if you are not lazy to look for it. And then there are people who say, “oh I am immunocompromised and then there are posts of them drinking huge amounts of alcohol, eating all sorts of crap, sugar etc…and then they blame the unvaccinated? Seriously?!

    • Bone says:

      Glad you are not in charge, herr SMH. Make sure to change your brown shirt occasionally.

    • Hayne says:

      SMH,
      Calm down. This unreasoning hystericism does no one any good.

      • SMH says:

        I actually work in an orchestra pit. Unvaxxed and unmasked does not work. Risks everyone’s health and the ability of the theatre to present performances.

        • Hayne says:

          If you’re so terrified of the fear porn and too indolent to research for yourself, I suggest you find another line of work.

  • Literati says:

    There’s quite a lot of this even in the U.K. which generally has a more scientifically literate population than the US. This is the inevitable result of the over 50s spending too much time on Facebook over the last 18 months without younger generations’ critical filters for what they read online. Same older generation whose antivax tendencies saw the return of previously virtually extinct illnesses.

  • Craig says:

    Some far more extreme people would say we should put antivaxxers on a list. I disagree with this wholeheartedly for obvious reasons, not least because they tend to be so obnoxiously loud about it that a list would never be required.

  • Y says:

    Good for him. Evidence shows that the vaccine is ineffective against Covid and has devastating side-effects. Those who take it are jeopardizing their health for little to no gain.

    • BigSir says:

      thats not at all true

      • Roman says:

        Yesterday, when nearly everyone is vaccinated, 119 died of Covid in the UK according to the official data. A year ago, on 20th of August 2020, when vaccines didn’t exist, only 6 people died of Covid. Averages over the days are not much different.

        What effectiveness of vaccines are you talking about?

        • Paul Sekhri says:

          Please don’t comment when you do not know what you are talking about. Your inane statements are potentially dangerous.

          • kim burgham says:

            look at the VAERS in USA, look at Eudravigillance in Europe and Yellow Card System in UK. All government numbers of thousands dead and millions of severely damaged people from the stabby jabby thing. Wake up buddy. Do a bit of research.

        • Amos says:

          No delta variant last year! Avoid trying to discuss science.

        • John R says:

          DELTA changed the landscape—as everyone knows. Had most people vaccinated early, there would probably have been no time for the delta Variant to develop and expand.
          The Trumpian SIN was to poo-poo the virus, masks, etc. and to WASTE the miraculous advantage of the vaccines.
          YOU, perhaps being an independent thinker (since you read SlippedDisc) probably know this perfectly well??

          • J Barcelo says:

            1. Masks are generally worthless. Maybe 10% effective. The only ones that seem to be good are the N95 and KN95 – study just out, Google it.
            2. Trump did NOT poo-poo it; he DID push the vaccines through at record speed. Who did poo-poo the virus? Fauci. In Jan. 2020 he said it’s no big deal and nothing to worry about.
            3. There’s been a lot of misinformation, lying, and false information from all sides in this pandemic.

          • Earlene V Carr says:

            The so called Delta variant is as big a scam as was the Covid19 virus. Follow the money and it will lead you to big pharma. Scientist cannot isolate a so called Covid virus so if it can’t be isolated, it doesn’t exist. The CDC has even admitted that it’s merely the Influenza virus. It’s just been re-packaged and sold to a gullible, unsuspecting public as a new killer virus. The truth about the vaccines dangerous side effects and deaths are finally emerging.

          • Amos says:

            I think you are referring to the results expressed by the tin-hat CDC not the actual science/fact-based organization.

          • Paul Sekhri says:

            Please stop spreading dangerous misinformation. You should be ashamed of yourself.

          • Karl says:

            Not true. Delta came from India where it is impossible to vaccinate so many people quickly. Variants are not the fault of people who don’t want to get vaccinated.

        • HowardF says:

          First of all, we now have Delta variant, which is much more contagious. Those who are unvaccinated are, therefore, much more likely to contract COVID, and to die from it than they were a year ago. Moreover, the UK opened up without restrictions, whereas they were locked down a year ago. That’s why there are more deaths. Vaccinated people can get infected, but are much less likely to die.

      • Sammy says:

        According to the CDC, vaccinated individuals can transmit the virus just as easily as unvaccinated. It’s fine to get vaccinated to protect yourself, but these mandates are absurd.

        • Paul Sekhri says:

          These mandates save lives.

          • Sammy says:

            Maybe they save the lives of the people who got them, but if someone doesn’t want to get vaccinated, that is their choice. It’s their life.

          • Karl says:

            Mandates not to eat cheeseburgers, smoke or drink alcohol would save lives too. Why don’t we do that? Because we have freedom and freedom is important.

          • The Thinker says:

            Me eating a cheeseburger or having a drink does not have the potentioal of killing YOU. How stupid. Have you not been paying attention???

        • Crispin Miller says:

          Vaccinated AND INFECTED individuals may transmit the virus as if uninfected, BUT they are
          far less likely to BECOME infected so as to have that opportunity.

        • HowardF says:

          Getting vaccinated means you’re less likely to occupy an ICU hospital bed and ventilator. Those who refuse vaccination are placing all hospital patients at risk, as there will be less beds, less nurses and doctors available to care for non-COVID patients.

      • Chicagorat says:

        Muti won’t resign in September. Informed of Chicago and CSO mask mandates, he will summon Alexander to his office and simply state:

        “Jeff, I am not wearing a mask. It makes me look stupid.”

        Alexander will bow and say: “Of course, Maestro”.

    • David says:

      Oh my god really!? You mean, the millions of people who’ve taken the vaccine are all suffering from devastating side-effects all the while simultaneously being infected by Covid? Wait a minute…that is actually not at all what I hear….but you must be right, all the news media, scientists, politicians, nurses, doctors, my neighbors, friends, and family who got vaccinated, EVERYONE must be lying about it! They are actually dead already from the vaccine but they pretend to still be alive too! Sneaky them! Thank you SO much, for enlightening me with your “evidence”!!

    • Stuart says:

      Just so not true

    • Michael says:

      …Except none of your assertions are remotely true…

      Of course, you won’t believe me, or what doctors and health experts around the world are saying about the importance of innoculation to mitigate the effects of a damaging and highly infectious disease, so please just carry on. Feel free to rely on your own “sources” for (fraudulent) medical advice.

      Only please do not expect any of the overwhelming majority of doctors and health experts who encourage vaccination against COVID-19 to help you – not if but when your life is on the line. I trust the outrageous hypocricy in that would be apparent.

      Until then, please keep your mouth literally and figuratively shut. Thank you.

      • Robin says:

        Actually, there are a lot of doctors who are very concerned about the injection deaths and serious compications. One site is called doctors4covidethics

      • Dr. Birchley Poundbottom says:

        Don’t expect doctors to help you? Another vile sentiment. How many virtue dollars did you get for this trash utterance?

    • Dan P. says:

      I’m not sure what world you are living in, Y, but those of us living in the reality-based world have the data. And what the data shows is that 99% of those who are now getting sick – mostly with the highly contagious Delta strain – are unvaccinated. It is simply delusional to state that the vaccine is ineffective and whatever you claim as evidence is imaginary.

    • violafan says:

      The evidence shows how effective the vaccine is. What are you talking about?

      • Robin says:

        Evidence? 6,000+ injection deaths, 37,000+ serious injuries, 464, 000 adverse events reported to the CDC VAERS site. Europe has almost 2 million adverse events reported to its EudrVigilance site, with half of them reported to be serious. Many countries are reporting problems post injection.

        • Amos says:

          Right, only Europe is experiencing side effects but not in the US where over 500 million vaccines have been administered. Then again we rejected use of the Sputnik-V and Chinese vaccines.

        • MK says:

          The adverse events reported to cdc include minor side effects such as a fever of 100 for one day. I reported my side effects for their research. And what do you know, I’m still alive now and the fever was gone in a day.

        • violafan says:

          “injection deaths”

          What the hell are you talking about?

          Do you know how many people have died from COVID-19?!

        • Bob says:

          Anyone can post anything to the VAERS site. Not vetted, not reviewed, not evidence of causal relationships. Not remotely proof of anything.

          • Hayne says:

            Yes it’s extremely underreported. Please show us the CDC site with the real numbers then.

    • Covidkills says:

      WHAT?? Or better still, what grade are you in, lol? Soon you will be able to read and discover the truth.

    • Minnesota says:

      Nothing in your statement is true. How do you live with yourself?

    • Jenni Li says:

      There’s no evidence that says any of this. Stop lying. Do you think people can’t check?

    • Mike says:

      No vaccine for stupid. No data supports your statements

    • Bill Cummins says:

      Y…you really are a sad joke.

    • George Neidorf says:

      You can always find “evidence” to back up nearly any claim about anything. The good news is that there are many conductors who will be happy to replace him.

    • Bill Cummins says:

      Y….are you really that stupid, or just a bot?

    • B says:

      Can you cite your “evidence,” please?

    • Patrick Gillot says:

      Sources for your comments?

    • Paul Sekhri says:

      You are more than simply an idiot. Positing statements like this make you actually dangerous.

    • John R says:

      Y:
      But much MORE evidence supports the usefulness of the vaccine!

    • Hayne says:

      It doesn’t matter that the vaccine doesn’t work. I feel sorry for the guy. He’s the first of other musicians to lose their jobs because of this incessant propaganda.

      • Amos says:

        Comrade H the new standard for bringing coals to Newcastle you denouncing propaganda! You have no source of income without propaganda.

    • Morgan says:

      No part of the world needs this nonsensical blather.

    • JW says:

      Uninformed liar.

    • David says:

      Where are you getting this information from?

    • Z says:

      What evidence are you studying? Z

    • Z says:

      What evidence are you referring to? Z

    • Brian says:

      Comments like “Y”s are on a par with inciting violence or ethnic hatred. They’re causing real harm at a time when tens of thousands are getting very sick from Covid every day and many are dying. It’s misinformation that is prolonging this pandemic keeping the music business from getting back on its feet.

    • Dzshef K. says:

      “Y,” does Putin pay you in dollars or rubles?

  • Patrick says:

    Not a very bright man. Too bad….for him.

  • TruthSeeker says:

    Ragnar Bohlin is a hero. His brave stand is only the beginning of the great turning that is about to happen in this society. A day of reckoning is coming. These are crimes against humanity. For those who are still brainwashed, just keep watching the obituaries of younger people who died “suddenly.” Look at Australia which has become a full-blown police state. Please prepare yourself mentally and emotionally, because if the worst cast scenario that some of these scientists (like Michael Yeadon formerly of Pfizer) have outlined occurs, we are going to be lucky if there are enough musicians left to fill out an orchestra.

    • David says:

      The day of reckoning is when you will be on your deathbed in a hospital suffering from Covid after infecting your family and friends, and the nurse tells you gently “Yes, Covid is unfortunately real, and this all could have been prevented if you had vaccinated yourself”. Unfortunately, these situations do happen, and by that time it’s too late.

  • Geoff says:

    Are all the comments here made by Scientists or Musicians? Who are the ones that know the facts? I read here two opposing points of view on a medical issue. Am I to believe one?

    • TruthSeeker says:

      If you think all of the “scientists” are in agreement that this thing is safe, you’re going to be in for a rude awakening. Numerous highly credentialed doctors and scientists have been desperately sounding the alarm for months. They include MIT’s Dr. Stephanie Senneff, Dr. Michael Yeadon, Dr. Lee Merritt, Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi, Dr. Robert Malone (the inventor of the mRNA technology on which these shots are based), and the list goes on. These people have faced unrelenting attacks from a corrupt establishment. The medical people who do not question the safety of these shots are either too brainwashed (like much of the rest of the society) or paid off. Just look around you at the obituaries and your own experience. These things are neither “safe” or “effective.”

      • Amos says:

        Let’s take a look at the qualifications of one of your MIT experts to weigh in:

        Stephanie Seneff is a senior research scientist at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

        Funny in 40 years I’ve never run into Dr. Seneff at a single Immunology/Virology meeting but then again I know next to nothing about AI. Using the title Dr. and MIT to prove a point only proves that you, Y, Hayne et al are all merchants of crap.

      • Paul Sekhri says:

        You mean these things are both safe and effective? Fixed it for you.

    • John R says:

      False Equivalence is a dangerous start—as we have seen SO many times…

    • David says:

      Please don’t try to inform yourself through comments on this forum. Please look up reputable sources and read carefully not just the information, but how they present it. How do they interpret data, how careful are they about discerning facts from falsehoods, and what kind of sources are they themselves citing? What we know about Covid and vaccines don’t come from a single sources. It’s a whole ecosystem of research and verification and sharing of it.

  • Renata says:

    Good for him

  • Amos says:

    A 61-year-old Trumpist talk show host in Nashville who downplayed the risks associated with COVID and the need to get vaccinated died today after a month in the ICU. When will people learn? Listening to Y and his fellow traveler HaYne results in sickness and death.

  • fflambeau says:

    Goodbye and good luck. Try out your vaccine ideas elsewhere. SF can easily replace you.

    By the way, the headline is misleading: he was the choir director not the symphony director.

  • Tom Clowes says:

    Seems to be a lot of COVID misinformation in this conversation. Norman, these inaccurate claims cost lives.

  • Jim C. says:

    Crazy. You get vaccinated repeatedly as children, this one’s perfectly safe.

    Imagine making an issue of this. I can only imagine too that this just scratches the surface of his personal politics.

  • Robin says:

    Ragnar Bohlin is correct. These injections are not vaccines in the usual sense of containing killed or weakened antigen strains. Instead, they use synthetic mRNA and GMO’d adenoviruses, with no long-term safety studies, and with a prior track record of test animals developing inflammation as well as ferrets all dying in 2012 when exposed to the wild MERS virus post injection. The CDC VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System) reporting site is now up to 6,000+ injection deaths, 37,000+ serious injuries (heart attacks, strokes, blood clotting, neurological damage, etc) and 464,000+ adverse events reported. (Results also viewable at http://www.childrenshealthdefense.org, updated every Friday). Injected women are experiencing miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as irregular periods and heavy bleeding. Noninjected women are experiencing irregular periods and heavy bleeding when in close contact with injected people. In other words, a lot of us do not see these injections as safe at all, even tho there’s been a lot of hype about them. For more information on what’s happening medically, see http://www.doctors4covidethics.org
    It’s a lot safer to boost our immune system with lots of Vit C, Vit D, a good multi vit/min, extra zinc with quercitin, glutathione/NAC, eat mushrooms (very anti-viral), eat low sugar since it slows down the immune system for hours, etc. Lots of us are doing this and we’ve been fine throughout this entire time. No bad side effects, no keeling over, no risking our physical health future, we’re just healthy.

    • Amos says:

      A word salad of pseudo-scientific crap with the emphasis of pseudo. Example weakened antigen strains? Are you referring to heat-killed viruses? Your 3 words are all perfectly fine terms but together are completely meaningless!

    • Paul Sekhri says:

      Sounds good, but you actually have no idea what you are talking about. Get vaccinated people. Stay alive.

  • Michael McGrath says:

    What a dramatic man. He must have no real problems.
    Vaccination is a civic duty, or does anyone disagree that vaccination for small pox, polio etc. is essential? Well, I guess he’s back to Sweden, where undoubtedly the system will cuddle him at taxpayers’ expense until he finds another job.

    • Hayne says:

      So if you’ve had polio you’re going to get another polio vaccine? Let’s not forget the Cutter incident of the 1950s where children first received the polio vaccine.

      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1383764/
      As for small pox vaccine, it was around 100 years before granted vaccine status in the states.
      This jab is less than a year old. Vaccines take 10-12 years to approve. Really, what could possibly go wrong?

      • Frank Black says:

        The Cutter Incident was a lab error at a time when there were literally no safeguards. And guess what, after that single lab problem was discovered, the polio vaccine, live or killed, has been pretty damn safe.

      • Amos says:

        Comrade H more vaccine history bs! It didn’t take 100 years for the small pox vaccine to be approved in the states. First, the original Jenner experiments with “skin-to-skin” vaccines began in 1796 and not in the US but England. Regrettably the technology to mass vaccinate people didn’t begin in the states until the 1920’s and small pox was formally administered in the 1940’s because that’s when the formulation was developed not out of your imaginary concerns. As soon as the technology was available and reliable it was used immediately. Back to the drawing board for a new stalking horse!

  • Nurhan Arman says:

    Personal freedom doesn’t mean one has the right to transmit a deadly virus to others. Others should have the right not to breath his virus. It is another idiotic argument against science and vaccination mandates.

    • Pam says:

      Great, Nurhan Arman. Then why we are not creating a ban against Coca Cola, Pepsi, Macdonald’s, alcohol, processed sugar and all the crap products that make people unhealthy and are more likely to transmit the virus or be hospitalized. How about that? Why we don’t start there? Well, that’s not good for business, right?however, it’s a great business to get government funding for something you have created and patented and then make people believe they NEED it so badly to stay “safe”. And don’t tell me that MRNA (that’s the stock ticker for Moderna by the way, funny right?) didn’t have a 3000% growth since their IPO rig before the pandemic. Guys, seriously, I kindly ask you for a second to just give the benefit of a doubt and at least try to look at the other side. I do the same all the time and agree with most of you that there are lots of antivax nonsense out there. Don’t be nosy stating that thinking for yourself is against science because the science as we know today is mostly shaped by Carnegie and Rockefeller for their own benefit…I admit brilliant businessmen but doesn’t seem they cared about sick people healing whatsoever. Also there are a lot of mainstream doctors who are silenced if they don’t go with the narrative that the investors ordered the media to communicate. Peace to all, stay safe and healthy.

      • Nurhan Arman says:

        Pam, the equation you make with fast food and soda vis-a-vis Covid 19 vaccines is misguided. This virus and its variants have already killed millions in a very short period of time. I am a huge sceptic of big pharma but amidst a pandemic I do trust the huge majority of scientists’ from all over the world who support these current vaccines.

      • David says:

        Skepticism is welcomed, as well as unbiased journalism and reporting. However, you are mixing up different issues here. The politics of pharmaceuticals and the efficacy of vaccines are different issues. They can be related, and we need to look into that, but we have. Clinical trials all around the globe, reviews from medical professionals, and real life cases of millions of people receiving the vaccine have confirmed the efficacy of the vaccine.

        Your comparison to fast food is also false equivalency. There is no need to “start there” when there is a global epidemic caused by a specific virus. That’s like telling people who fell off the cliff to start by wearing better shoes. Very unhelpful.

        Lastly, science and logic have a history of thousands of years. It’s not shaped by Carnegie and Rockefeller. Since you seem like an inquisitive mind, I encourage you to take a look at the history of philosophy, and history of science that came out of it. It is sad to see a skeptical mind not being directed in the right direction.

  • ken says:

    Get your shots, folks !

  • Folke B. says:

    According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Bohlin has a church gig lined up in Sweden.

    Let me get this straight: he gave up a career working with Salonen, Tilson Thomas, et al., with a tremendous orchestra in one of the most remarkable cities in the world, to conduct a church choir on Sundays, because of some conspiracy theories?

    His Facebook feed has been an embarrassment to see: Multiple postings a day from obscure blogs, retracted studies, and his own statements of misinformation. There will be a rude awakening when the church administrators and choir members at the new digs will start demanding safety for its members.

  • Bass-baritone says:

    Nothing makes me more unlikely to get this “vaccine” than reading comments by hysterical vaxxtards. They’ll be gunning us down in the streets soon.

  • Pianofortissimo says:

    That’s a rather infected discussion.

  • Couperin says:

    Starting tomorrow it won’t be “experimental” anymore! Not that it ever was. But it doesn’t matter because once Pfizer, and soon Moderna, have full FDA approval, what will the next selfish entitled MAGA excuse be? At any rate, stay the hell out of NYC please and thanks!

  • debuschubertussy says:

    Rather misleading headline there, I see you conveniently left “Chorus” out of the headline…

  • Benjamin says:

    having just come from Israel where 65% are vaccinated and 64% in the hospital are also vaccinated, having multiple friends w dead mothers or bleeding, tumors, heart attacks, autoimmune skin disease, paralyzed, etc. It seems naive to promote a treatment that is all risk and little benefit.

  • David says:

    Thank GOD the idiot is gone!

  • Michelle says:

    Good man. Great to see someone with principles that’s actually capable of critical thinking and assessing the risk/benefit instead of just swallowing everything they’re told by their television.

    • David says:

      He’s doing the exact opposite, and is swallowing the conspiracy theories and fake news propagated by lonely, desperate people wanting to exact revenge on people with actual competence and training, because they somehow feel like the world has been unfair to them.

      Michelle, the world may have been unfair to you, but it’s our responsibility to change that constructively and democratically. Finding scapegoats, believing in falsehoods, and spreading misinformation that risks lives, aren’t going to help anyone. Wake up, stop taking the easy bitter road, and do something about your life and other people’s lives.

  • JP says:

    Good for him. No one should be forced to take this drug.

  • algot says:

    Tin foil hat. There is so much else to worry about: bisfenol A and S, phtalates, micro plastic everywhere… Enough already.

  • Michael Lemieux says:

    There are quite a few young and amazing conductors/chorusmeisters who are suitable for the job. The committee that chooses his replacement will have a great pool to choose from

  • Danger says:

    If the first two worked, why would you need to Boost Back Better? If you submit to vax passports, what will you need to submit to in the future. And, always remember, obedience is not a virtue.*
    See Jesus, Gandhi, M.L. King, Schindler, etc.

  • Belen says:

    Bravo!! Brave man!
    For those who still believe the narrative av COVID, do you know how the detect delta variant? They don’t. The use the PCR test ( which is not even for diagnosis) and they GUESS it is delta . And they still call it science?

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