According to the latest numbers, 33 percent of Iowans are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. That means they’ve received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine.
Forty-four percent of Iowans have received at least one dose. That puts Iowa squarely in the middle of the pack as far as state vaccination rates go. Now comes the hard part.
There are encouraging signs that the United States, through vaccination, is winning the race against the virus. This fourth surge is starting to show signs of abating and the prospects for case numbers dropping during the summer months, at least in the northern states. is very good. But to prevent a new surge in the fall and to stay ahead of new variants of the virus, we need to get as many people vaccinated as possible.
That means calming the fears of those who are nervous, encouraging the reluctant, delivering vaccine to those who can’t get to a clinic or pharmacy and, perhaps most importantly, convincing at least some of those who are adamantly opposed to getting this vaccine.
On this edition of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe discusses the history of vaccine hesitancy and what makes the hesitancy we’re seeing right now unique and explores some of the techniques that just might make a difference.
Below is a list of resources that were mentioned during this discussion.
United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties panel discussion: Why Should I Get a COVID Vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines available at all Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations with no appointment necessary
Guests:
- Sue Lederer, Robert Turell Professor of the History of Medicine and Bioethics at the school of medicine and public health, University of Wisconsin at Madison
- Dr. Rick Dobyns, family medicine physician, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Shelley Bickel, Wayne County public health administrator
