OK, I know this is in room 1408 so, I will get some flak for saying this.
Note: I am vaccinated, I am affiliated with no political party (but I do vote), and I never voted for Trump (or Biden, or Hilary).
The vaccine, sharing vaccine data, and other COVID-related insanity are hurt by political and media ideology. We definitely know Trump put out plenty of BS about the virus. However, Trump was also completely the reason for Operation Warp Speed which fast-tracked the creation of the vaccine. Prior to the election VP Kamela Harris openly stated she wouldn't get a vaccine created under Trump's administration, and yet when the election was over, she got the jab just like most people. Heck, Trump got the shot even after having COVID. Note: This is not a defense of Trump, all of his policies, his rhetoric, etc. I'm just stating a few facts. I'll also note that the media does love sound bites and taking things out of context REGARDLESS of the politician, so long as it makes for emotion-inducing coverage.
So my first point is that focusing on political ideology is going to kill our response and vaccination rate. All of us have a tendency to side with the narrative or team we believe most in, which makes sense. However, we also have a tendency to demonize the "other" side. Is it the most intelligent thing in the world to run blindly around and shout "freedom" instead of adhering to mask mandates or getting vaccinated? NO! Does that mean that even if a higher percentage of Republicans or Republican-controlled states it necessarily means every person represents that specific ideology? NO!
I think the narrative has become, "if you don't mask and/or get your vaccine, you are a moron, selfish, and deserve to be treated as a traitor". How do any of us think that this would encourage such a person to change their ways? I know for me, if someone belittles me, makes me feel like I don't have a place in society, and generally demonizes me, I'm either going to stay hidden out of the fear I'll be shamed for doing the thing but being late to the party, retreat and stay hidden altogether or dig my heels in and stand on my high horse simply to spite the other side. Not to mention that when the media echos these beliefs, implying that only the "idiot Republican south states" are responsible, it is basically belittling our own citizens.
The narrative often doesn't focus on true care and concern for the individuals themselves, but instead, "why can't these morons get their acts together", "they are putting ME and MY FAMILY at risk", "they are killing our country and everything we stand for". Anyone who tries to voice a legitimate fear over vaccination, the fast-track process, and other such things is labeled as an anti-vaxxer or stupid without even giving their thoughts a true moment for consideration. I'm not talking about the true anti-vaxxer arguments about magnetic arms and mind control either, but people who have questions about the development of the vaccines, etc. No, this isn't everyone, but it is the narrative pushed by the media. No vaccination? Questioning lockdowns? Refusing to wear a mask? You are a danger to yourself, your country, and are a moron to boot!
The media also ignores several things which people should have some legitimate concern about.
1. While the J&J Viral Vector vaccine technique has been used before, the MRNA vaccine is a much newer technology with next to no track record. The technology was developed to produce custom cancer treatments for individuals. I'm not saying it makes the technology ineffective or harmful, I am saying that yes, it is a new technology, and I personally chose the J&J because I wanted to get a vaccination but I wanted something that was based on a more tested delivery method.
2. There is no scientific consensus on vaccine viability/effectiveness against variants and in terms of how long immunity lasts. Some studies say at least 4-6 months, but that isn't very comforting, especially to someone who is already hesitant.
3. Drug companies use the media to push their products, this is no secret. But what is even better is when drug companies push narratives about the competitor vaccine not being as good, etc. The J&J isn't as good as Pfizer/Moderna. The Moderna vaccine does this, but the Pfizer vaccine does that. The vaccine does work, it doesn't work, it sort of works. This creates confusion and hesitancy.
4. This is only a personal belief and I am not a scientist. The vaccines' effectiveness is not measured by their ability to prevent overall infection. The vaccines' effectiveness is measured by their ability to reduce the need to go to the hospital. 99% effective against serious infection. Some studies report 99% against infection in general but that when they do get infected, the breakthrough case won't be lethal.
https://www.wcpo.com/news/national/coronavirus/99-99-of-those-fully-vaccinated-in-us-havent-had-deadly-breakthrough-case-cdc-data-showsI may be dumb, I may be wrong, but I don't remember a vaccine's effectiveness measured not by its overall ability to prevent the disease through the creation of antibodies but based on its ability to prevent death in the case that you do get the disease after being vaccinated. In fact, when the media reports on breakthrough infections, and there have been plenty of these news reports, they say that the infections prove the vaccine is WORKING because the person didn't have to go to the hospital.
I'm sorry, but if I have a vaccine for measles, mumps, chickenpox, rubella, and hepatitis B, and then GET the disease at all, I consider that a failure of the vaccine. Traditional vaccines use dead viruses to trigger a legitimate immune response that generates antibodies. The COVID vaccines, regardless of which one, do NOT do this. Instead, they act almost like a virus themselves forcing our bodies to produce the spike proteins on the outside of the actual virus. It isn't the same process. Does it mean people shouldn't get vaccinated? NO! However, does it lead me, a rational, free-thinking person to question whether the vaccine is truly as effective as other vaccines? Yes, it does.
TLDR1. Truly anti-vaxxer people deserve ridicule, however, I don't believe most hesitant people fall into this group. Most people, who happen to be in Republican states, are probably concerned for legitimate reasons, and it doesn't help when the media calls them stupid, labels them as traitors, etc. In short, these people are HUMAN BEINGS despite their reservations. You will only see the most extreme people on TV or online because that is what sells outrage and advertising.
2. The narrative tends to be more about how people not getting vaccinations are selfish because of their impact on others and less about a sense of concern for those individuals' wellbeing.
3. The media mocks true concerns/questions of people which arguably do have legitimate and good responses. I may not know those responses myself, but there probably are good responses to these questions. It is better to find ways to address those questions than to shoot people down because of them.
I don't know, maybe I am an unnecessary optimist here. I just don't see the sense of demonizing people for their fear of the unknown. This whole situation is unknown to all of us. All of us have experienced fear because of it. Maybe not all of us have hurt others directly, or indirectly out of that fear or even stubbornness, but can we all not find situations in our lives where we have?
Maybe we just need to shift the narrative to one not based on politics, panic, or hate, and instead, actually make the narrative about compassion and concern. It's just a thought and maybe a naive one at that.