It seems pretty outlandish given US track record of doing things in the name of public health. US food subsidies are for the unhealthiest food, healthcare policies result in the worst health outcomes at highest cost, protective environmental regulations have been stripped away hurting public health. Yet this time… it’s different. That seems like a crazy conspiracy to me.
Unfortunately politicians are keeping up hostile rhetoric towards unvaccinated. They do not admit to any mistakes, still hold onto false assumptions about what does/does not work (cloth masks?). If they don’t change their tone it makes me think they’re ready to bring it back. Even Bill Gates is going around saying there will be a new, more deadly variant.