From Bassetti to Ricciardi, experts in the sights of no vax attacks and threats

Virologists, infectious diseases and immunologists still targeted by the no vax and no green pass. From Bassetti to Gismondo, from Crisanti to Galli and Ricciardi, the experts who have come to the fore in these 2 years of pandemic continue to be insulted and threatened or, at worst, attacked. As happened a few days ago to Matteo Bassetti, director of the Infectious Diseases Clinic of San Martino in Genoa, who was attacked while he was having an aperitif with his wife in the center of Genoa. “A group of students approached us, people who should study and who instead spend their lives, for 50 Saturdays, in the square shouting and insulting others – the infectious disease specialist told Adnkronos – There is an unacceptable climate and there are enormous responsibilities, in my opinion, also on the part of the judiciary. I hope that something will do the investigators, because if these people are brought to trial in 5 years it will be useless. We need quick trials with exemplary penalties. A civilized country is a country that knows how to enforce the law for everyone, not just for someone: of any political color “. CRISANTI:” NEVER THREATENED BY NO VAX, ONLY SOME OFFENSIVE MAILS “” I have never been threatened by no vax “, virologist Andrea Crisanti, director of the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Padua, told Adnkronos Salute instead. “I happened to receive some messages in which there were insults, some e-mails with insulting tones. But nothing in particular”. His notoriety among the general public has been growing. Months in the spotlight, in which his stances on the hottest issues fueled the debate.
Yet, despite his frankness, he did not attract the arrows of deniers and anti-vax. “Only minor emails”, from what the expert reports who, in any case, does not appear very interested in social networks and their dynamics. The only episode he remembered for the comments received on the web that surprised him was the day after his first dose of the anti-Covid vaccine: “I gave the injection publicly, even if I did not like the story of the cameras, and the video on Youtube went viral – he said in those days of January 2020 – But for some, even this is not enough. Some wrote that the needle was partially covered, while the operator put it in my arm “. PREGLIASCO: “TARGETED BY CALLS OF INSULTS AND THREATS, NIGHT AND DAY” Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco was targeted instead of phone calls with insults and threats. “They keep calling during the day and at night to insult me. Tonight they did it at one, then this morning at 6.20. Some call with private numbers. They tell me, for example, that I will end up in a stake for my criminal action along with others who they are organizing this social control for the new world order “, the outburst of the professor at the University of Milan. “Avalanche insults – he tells Adnkronos Salute – also arrive on Instagram and a bit on Facebook where among other things I only publish things related to my volunteer activity, thus ruining the spirit a little too. Obviously I filed a complaint. , now they are checking so I hope – says the doctor – that there will be short-term actions “. GALLI: “ON THE STREET SO MUCH CORDIALITY AND RARE RUDE” “Insults from no vax on the street? On Saturday walking with a couple of friends I was greeted with cordiality by an embarrassing number of people. At the end of the walk we met a person, known to one of the my friends as an untempered no vax who lives in the neighborhood, and who recognizing me did not spare himself some abuse and insult. But frankly, it doesn’t bother me too much: the proportion is less than one to a hundred. Rude people are rare “, he says for his part Massimo Galli, former director of Infectious diseases at the Sacco hospital in Miliano. “This too – continues Galli – reflects the proportion between sensible Italians and those who are not”. RICCIARDI ,: “IN REAL LIFE I RECEIVE APPRECIATIONS NOT INSULTS AS ON SOCIALS” Walter Ricciardi speaks of social insults instead. “It has never happened to me in public that I have to face insults from no vax, as it can happen on social networks. Honestly in my social life I have often had expressions of sympathy and appreciation”, the professor of Hygiene at the University told Adnkronos Health. Catholic university and advisor to the Minister of Health Roberto Speranza. “My experience proves – continues Ricciardi – that aggressive no vaxes are a small minority, even if they make a big voice on social media. The important thing is that 9 out of 10 Italians, like demonstrated, they agree on the importance of vaccinating, on the importance of protecting yourself “. GISMONDO: “I DO NOT ADVERTISE THREATS BECAUSE THEY INCITE IMITATORS” “Matteo Bassetti is a friend to whom I express my solidarity. As for me, fortunately I have not had any of these episodes, but only more or less threatening messages that I have dropped and I haven’t even advertised. Because doing so, in my opinion, even incites others to follow in the wake of the insult “, the reflection of Maria Rita Gismondo, who” personally “believes” better not to report even certain attacks, at least in the public sphere through media. Obviously it is right to report them to the competent authorities “, explains the director of the Laboratory of clinical microbiology, virology and bio-emergency diagnostics of the Sacco hospital in Milan to Adnkronos Salute. ANDREONI: “I AM THREATENED BUT BETTER NOT TO GIVE VISIBILITY TO NO VAX” He instead “decided not to give more visibility to those who attack me, so as not to throw fuel on the fire”, Massimo Andreoni, head of infectious disease at the Tor Vergata Polyclinic in Rome and scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit). “I still receive many emails and some are from protesters – warns Andreoni – but if the tone of those who attack me is placated, I reply to some and try to explain the positions of science”. “In principle, however, it seems to me that the climate of hatred against us scientists has calmed down, I prefer not to advertise their attacks – continues Andreoni – Those who expose themselves and express themselves with different opinions from others, and this is not just about vaccination , exposes himself to the risk of receiving opposite opinions and even with a violent tone. I think it is better not to give visibility to these subjects except in particularly serious cases “. less notoriety and visibility, I tried to defend my privacy but it pains me that such episodes happen to colleagues I know and love, younger than me “, says, finally the virologist Francesco Menichetti, former head of infectious diseases at the hospital of Pisa. “It is a negative sign of the times – says the doctor – I don’t want to talk about it, I keep threats and interventions by the public force for myself, but I must say that there is a fringe of the population that does not look favorably on us and above all does not look favorably on those guilty of supporting the efficacy of vaccines, which is incontrovertible, and maintains a prudent approach in this situation which is simply wise and in everyone’s interest “. “The conclusion is that if politics were a little more harmonious and more prudent on these issues – warns the virologist – perhaps these phenomena could be contained. Of course if you go and say ‘I don’t vaccinate my son’, if he says so. an ordinary person is an opinion but if a political leader says so. It is not a question of right or wrong – clarifies Menichetti – but in a period like this a different and new harmony must be built. It is not required that the parties divide or express themselves on such issues. And anyway – he concludes – I’m sorry for Bassetti, it’s not nice “.