Dear Editor,
I was very saddened to see the removal of the Rapid Response by Dr Polyakova [1].
The letter was accepted for publication on 2nd April 2021. All responses are checked by BMJ editors before publication. It is therefore perplexing to know why this letter was acceptable prior to being shared on public media, yet 10 days later it was 'being used to spread misinformation'. I did not see any misinformation in the letter. Only a heartfelt description of staff concerned and under pressure.
The original article [2] barely mentions that the vaccines available currently involve novel technologies under temporary licence, with phase 3 trials not due to be completed until 2023. This is very different from Hepatitis B vaccine which has a long track record of safety. If any health professional comes to harm as a result of a vaccine then this will not only be a tragedy for the staff member concerned, but will risk greatly increasing vaccine hesitancy.
Has the BMJ changed its editorial policy on censorship?
Dr Geoffrey Maidment
Rapid Response:
Re: Do doctors have to have the covid-19 vaccine?
Dear Editor,
I was very saddened to see the removal of the Rapid Response by Dr Polyakova [1].
The letter was accepted for publication on 2nd April 2021. All responses are checked by BMJ editors before publication. It is therefore perplexing to know why this letter was acceptable prior to being shared on public media, yet 10 days later it was 'being used to spread misinformation'. I did not see any misinformation in the letter. Only a heartfelt description of staff concerned and under pressure.
The original article [2] barely mentions that the vaccines available currently involve novel technologies under temporary licence, with phase 3 trials not due to be completed until 2023. This is very different from Hepatitis B vaccine which has a long track record of safety. If any health professional comes to harm as a result of a vaccine then this will not only be a tragedy for the staff member concerned, but will risk greatly increasing vaccine hesitancy.
Has the BMJ changed its editorial policy on censorship?
Dr Geoffrey Maidment
[1]https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n810/rr-14
[2]Do doctors have to have the covid-19 vaccine? https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n810
Competing interests: No competing interests