The Offspring
Drummer is no longer allowed to play without vaccination
Pete Parada has played with The Offspring since 2007.
© imago / Gonzales Photo
Drummer Pete Parada has reservations about a vaccination for medical reasons – that’s why he has to leave The Offspring now.
The Offspring need a new drummer for the upcoming tour of the new album “Let The Bad Times Roll”: Like Pete Parada (48), who has swung the sticks so far, announced on Instagram, he won’t be seen at the upcoming shows. The reason is his medical reservations about the corona vaccination.
Accordingly, his doctor advised against a corona vaccination. “I caught the virus over a year ago and it was mild for me, so I’m confident I could deal with it again.” He would be more concerned about the possibility of Guillain-Barré syndrome from vaccination, a nerve disease that had already broken out in him as a child. Due to the latest regulations, with his vaccination status, it is no longer possible for him to follow the rules of the industry, which are currently becoming the standard, according to Parada.
The US Medicines Agency warned in the middle of the year that Johnson & Johnson’s corona vaccination could in rare cases increase the risk of a GBS outbreak. According to the “New York Times” around 100 suspected cases out of around 13 million vaccinations, so a causal connection with the vaccine could not be proven.
“Let’s stop yelling at each other”
Parada also used the attention to demonstrate his stance on the vaccination debate: “Let’s stop dominating, dehumanizing and yelling at one another.” He writes that there are a number of different reasons to refuse the vaccination. He is for an informed consent without coercion. He also wants to share his story in order to show others who would now feel left behind that they are not alone.
The musician also explains that he has no bad feelings about the band. “They do what they think is best for them and I do the same.” Parada has been the drummer for The Offspring since 2007.