Although mask mandates are being lifted and businesses are reopening, COVID-19 vaccinations are still a trending topic. The United States hasn’t reached its vaccination goal, and according to recent news, many are pleased about it.

The state of Texas hosted this year’s annual Conservative Political Action Conference, featuring “Covid Contrarian” Alex Berenson. During his speech, where he boasted about the federal government’s inability to get 90 percent of the population vaccinated, cheers from the crowd could be heard. This reaction didn’t sit well with President Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci.

According to the Daily Beast, Dr. Fauci expressed his concerns with the pushback against the vaccines. He also took issue with the rumor that the Biden administration will force people to get the vaccine by going door-to-door.

“The big misinterpretation that Fox News or whomever else is saying is that they are essentially envisioning a bunch of federal workers knocking on your door, telling you you’ve got to do something that you don’t want to do.”

“That’s absolutely not the case, it’s trusted messengers who are part of the community doing that — not government officials. So that’s where I think the disconnect is.”

During CNN’s State of the Union, Dr. Fauci continued with the following:

“We’ve got to put aside this ideological difference or differences thinking that somebody is forcing you to do something.”

“The public health officials, like myself and my colleagues, are asking you to do something that will ultimately save your life, and that of your family and that of the community.”

“I mean, it’s ideological rigidity, I think. There’s no reason not to get vaccinated.”

There have been open discussions, however, about businesses and schools mandating vaccines. But this may pose a problem, seeing as how young adults make up the majority of those against getting them.

WebMD advised that the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, released as of May 22, 2021, showed that 57% of adults in the U.S. received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine; the vaccine rate was the highest amongst those 65 and up (80%) and the lowest amongst those 18-29 years old (38.3%). A second CDC report showed that nearly 25% of the 18-29 age group said that they probably or would not get vaccinated, and 23% stated that they’re unsure.

Efforts to improve vaccination coverage are needed, especially among younger adults, to reduce COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Many, myself included, are ready for things to revert back to normal. But I’m having a hard time taking these back-and-forths seriously when Dr. Fauci, himself, stated that the durability for immunity after taking the vaccine may not last longer than six months to a year—essentially making the vaccine as effective as the annual flu shot.

But who are we to question things.

Until Next Time…

(Sources)

Photo Credit: Los Angelos Times

Baragona, J. (2021, July 11). Fauci Says ‘It’s Horrifying’ to See CPAC Crowd Cheering Low Vaccination Rates. Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/dr-anthony-fauci-says-its-horrifying-to-see-cpac-crowd-cheering-low-vaccination-rates?ref=scroll. 

Ellis, R. (n.d.). Young Adults Have Low Vaccination Rate, CDC Says. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210622/young-adults-have-low-vaccinatination-rate-cdc-says. 

Korecki, N., & Daniels, E. (2021, July 12). ‘Potentially a death sentence’: White House goes off on vaccine fearmongers. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/12/biden-covid-vaccination-campaign-499278.