Trump: "Go get your shot."
Former president boosts COVID-19 vaccines as J&J vaccine distribution begins; Experts keep focus on equitable distribution and increasing confidence in the vaccines.
ICYMI: Yesterday I reported on the timing of the rollout of Johnson & Johnson’s new COVID-19 vaccine doses. The manufacturing process timeline indicates that only a small number of doses will reach states before mid-to-late March. Read more.
Vaccine distribution equity remains one of the Biden administration’s top priorities. At an American Bar Association webinar I attended this morning, experts said that vaccination programs that require booking appointments online or have inflexible schedules are examples of bias that favors the more privileged in our communities. Decentralized distribution, such as at community health centers and neighborhood pharmacies, help overcome these obstacles. A larger supply of vaccine doses will make the biggest difference, however.
Communication about vaccines should be from trusted messengers and within an open dialog. People want to know they can ask questions and get answers from someone they believe.
On Sunday, former President Trump told his supporters, “Everybody go get your shot.” Polls and other research indicate that Republicans and supporters of the former president are among the groups least interested in getting COVID-19 vaccinations. Let’s see if this makes a difference.
Trump and his wife were vaccinated at the White House in January, but this was kept secret.
Many celebrities, political and other leaders have chosen to get their shots in full public view to help show their confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, which has been tracking vaccine issues closely, says that one of the strongest indicators of a person’s willingness to get the vaccine is whether they know someone who got one already. KFF finds that vaccine acceptance has risen across all groups in the USA since mid-January.
The European Union is working on a “vaccine passport” system that would allow individuals who have received COVID-19 vaccinations to travel with fewer restrictions than others.