CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, appearing on “The Joe Rogan Experience” this week, seemed frazzled when host Joe Rogan tried to pin down the doctor on the low COVID-19 risk to children, even comparing their risk to that of vaccinated adults.
Rogan’s commentary, which Gupta seemed to agree with, was meant to illustrate why parents might be hesitant to give children a vaccine against COVID-19. At times, however, Gupta stammered through some of the conversation, seemingly missing the point.
“With a breakthrough infection, untreated, you’re probably more vulnerable than the average child, who is not vaccinated, who gets COVID,” Rogan told Gupta. “Like, people have died who are double vaccinated. In fact, there was a guy who just won an Emmy. The odds of that happening to a healthy child are very, very low.”
“Very low,” the doctor agreed.
“Theoretically, you would be more vulnerable than a young child would be,” the podcast host said, continuing to illustrate his larger point. “You vaccinated would be more vulnerable of a breakthrough infection than a young child would be, statistically speaking, right?”
“Uh, they’re both rare,” Gupta said.
“But you’re not worried about catching it,” Rogan reinforced. “You’re not worried about catching it because you’ve been vaccinated and you think it imparts a certain amount of protection.”
“What I’m saying to you is, I think that ‘not worry’ is the same feeling that a lot of people have about their children,” he continued. “They’re not worried about their healthy children catching it for the same reason you’re not worried about catching it being vaccinated.”
“I think — I mean, they’re both –,” Gupta stammered.
“That seems reasonable, right?” Rogan pressed.
Gupta responded, “Well I think — I don’t — I, I, I know the story about this 53-year-old guy…”
After Rogan continued the argument, Gupta curiously asked, “Well, are you suggesting I get boosted?”
“I’m not saying that,” Rogan reiterated. “What I’m saying is, your attitude about not being concerned because you have antibodies, and you think you would get through it even if you had a breakthrough infection, that is the exact same attitude that a lot of young people have where they don’t want to get a shot, because they’re worried about the consequences, even though they’re incredibly small.”
WATCH:
Transcript can be viewed below:
ROGAN: With a breakthrough infection, untreated, you’re probably more vulnerable than the average child who is not vaccinated who gets COVID. Like, people have died who are double vaccinated. In fact, there was a guy who just won an Emmy…
GUPTA: Yeah, I saw that.
ROGAN: The odds of that happening to a healthy child are very, very low.
GUPTA: Very low.
ROGAN: But that guy is probably your age. How old are you?
GUPTA: I’m 51.
ROGAN: Yeah, he’s about your age. Theoretically, you would be more vulnerable than a young child would be. You, vaccinated, would be more vulnerable of a breakthrough infection than a young child would be, statistically speaking, right?
GUPTA: Uh, they’re both rare.
ROGAN: But … you’re not worried about catching it. You’re not worried about catching it because you’ve been vaccinated and you think it imparts a certain amount of protection. What I’m saying to you is, I think that ‘not worry’ is the same feeling that a lot of people have about their children. They’re not worried about their healthy children catching it for the same reason you’re not worried about catching it being vaccinated. That, if treated correctly, they think that the child probably has a better chance even than you do, because you’re 51 years old.
GUPTA: I think — I mean, they’re both —
ROGAN: That seems reasonable, right?
GUPTA: Well I think — I don’t — I, I, I know the story about this 53-year-old guy —
ROGAN: But you see what I’m saying with your attitude? That you’re not worried about catching it because you’ve been vaccinated, and you’re a healthy guy. That is the exact same feeling that people have about vaccinating their children, if they have healthy children and they know that, statistically speaking, there’s so few children that have died from COVID.
GUPTA: Well, yeah, there are. It’s, like, I think 500 or so [kids who have died from COVID].
ROGAN: Out of millions and millions and millions of kids —
GUPTA: That probably have been exposed. But, you know, again, part of it is, is not defining this in terms of life and death.
ROGAN: But do you understand my point?
GUPTA: Well, are you suggesting I get boosted?
ROGAN: I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is, your attitude about not being concerned because you have antibodies, and you think you would get through it even if you had a breakthrough infection, that is the exact same attitude that a lot of young people have where they don’t want to get a shot, because they’re worried about the consequences, even though they’re incredibly small.