Rashidi is the district chief physician in the district of St Hanshaugen in Oslo. There, he, along with several others, is responsible for vaccinating around 40,000 people.
– We notice that people are very happy when we call. It’s starting to get a little fun, quite simply, Rashidi tells the Press Club.
But not everyone he meets is equally positive about vaccination.
This week Rashidi was in debate with «Charter» -Svein Østvik, who last weekend burned a bandage in front of the Storting in protest against the corona measures. Rashidi says that he was cursed during the meeting with Østvik.
– Yes, I do. I notice that when I talked to Svein and he talked for many minutes about tests that do not work and that it is censorship that the people, it boils inside me, he says.
– Corona demonstration in front of the Storting. Charter-Svein was one of the participants who, among other things, burned a bandage. Photo: Silje Holtan Enghaug / TV 2
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Another reality
But he wants to be the rational doctor who fronts science. And Rashidi has, during the pandemic, devoted a lot of time to separating misinformation from facts, both about covid-19 and coronary vaccines.
– I think it’s a little scary that we live in a time where the availability of information has not necessarily made us so much smarter. And that the incorrect information has taken root and spread more easily, he says.
He believes that some covid deniers live in a different reality, and he is concerned that they should not be left unchallenged in public.
– It’s nice. Some people beg and would do anything to get the vaccine, even those at the opposite end, who believe that this is pure and simple poison that is injected into people’s bodies, he says.
THE VOICE OF REASON: Rashidi will not leave covid deniers unchallenged. Photo: Guro Midtmageli / TV 2
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Trying to bribe
Because there are plenty of people who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get a stab. Rashidi says he receives messages from people trying to bribe him to get vaccinated.
– First, they politely ask if I work with – and have access to vaccines, and how to get such a one, he chuckles.
– Have you received any money offers?
– Yes, people have also sent krone offers!
– What are the offers on?
– Ha ha! They are infinitely smaller than what could ever have been the case. How much would I have to sell my soul and undermine the entire Norwegian health care system, sort of?
For Rashidi emphasizes that it is of course completely inappropriate to say yes to any kind of bribery
– It would be 2021’s Quisling to sell coronary vaccines on the black market, he says with a smile.
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