San Antonio doctor and Democratic Texas House of Representatives nominee Shelly Nickels called for the arrest of people who declined the COVID-19 vaccine in a 2021 social media post describing an encounter with one of her patients.
Newly unearthed social media posts show that, in an August 9, 2021, Facebook post, Nickels recounted treating a patient who had been picked up by emergency medical services after coughing while visiting a store. According to Nickels, the man and his wife were unvaccinated, and the wife had tested positive for COVID-19 seven days earlier.
“Not vaccinated because ‘COVID is no big deal,’” Nickels wrote.
She then asked: “At what point do we start arresting these literal murderers?”
The comments came during a period when government officials, employers, and medical institutions across the country were considering vaccine mandates and other restrictions on Americans who had not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
Nickels’ statement went considerably further, raising the prospect of criminally arresting people over conduct connected to their vaccination status.
The remarks are drawing renewed scrutiny as Nickels seeks public office, particularly among voters concerned about the use of government power against citizens over personal medical decisions.
Shelly Nickels is the Democratic nominee facing incumbent Republican State Representative Mark Dorazio in House District 122 in northwest San Antonio. In Democrats’ quest to take control of the Texas House of Representatives, House 122 is a must-win seat. Election day is November 3rd.