it . This share now stands at 71 %, up from 63 %, in a September survey conducted in partnership with ESPN ’ s The Undefeated . Following on the heels of the presidential election and promising news about several COVID-19 vaccine candidates , the new survey finds an increase in the share who say they would get vaccinated across racial and ethnic groups , and among both Democrats and Republicans ( willingness to get vaccinated among independents has not changed ).”
The Kaiser Family Foundation also found that 29 % of medical workers were “ vaccine hesitant ” compared to 27 % of their general population surveyed . “ Respondents to the Kaiser Family Foundation survey who said they probably wouldn ’ t get the vaccine said they worried about side effects ; they lacked trust in the government to ensure the vaccines were safe ; they had concerns about the role of politics in the development of the vaccines ; or they believed the dangers of COVID-19 had been exaggerated .”
This blindly dogged ability to deny facts - for example , the thousands of dead Californians , many of whom these same medical workers had cared for - astounds me . Distrust learned from the previous racial evils of both government and private institutions plays a part .
Despite all , somehow , we must convince our people to see vaccination as their rescue from teaching school at home , as the lifeboat
DOCTORS ' LOUNGE for their jobs , as their ticket to packing the stadiums full again . It ’ s how we get swimming pools and movie theaters and libraries all the way open . We must all escape the inferno together ( well , at least 80 % of us ) for community immunity . Nothing less will work .
We doctors have got to teach and teach : the shot is free . The shot works . The shot is safe . The shot can save your life . The shot can save your sweetheart , and your grandmother and your friend who ’ s on chemo .
The shot will keep our lights on and our stores open . The shot will guard our EMS , our cops , our firefighters , our teachers and our hairdressers , everyone at ValuMarket and Kroger and Paul ’ s . You want to go to the boat ? Get the shot . You want a family reunion ? Get the shot . You want to know how it ’ s your turn ? Pay attention ! The Health Department will tell us when and how to sign up . Teach your friends . See : https :// louisvilleky . gov / government / louisville-covid-19-resource-center / covid-19-vaccine-information .
Just imagine : we ’ ll go to the gym without masks on ! We can put basketball hoops back up in the park ! We can have a barbecue and a block party , we can have weddings with 15 bridesmaids , and we can go to the beach — and only fear the sharks .
The shot is our great escape . Don ’ t die in the cell block : take it .
Dr . Barry is an internist and Associate Professor of Medicine ( Gratis Faculty ) at the University of Louisville School of Medicine , currently taking a six-month sabbatical .
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