- A large number of health care workers in U.S. nursing homes and hospitals are refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. According to AP, as many as 80% turned down a chance in some institutions.
- In a number of states, officials have sounded the alarm about the low intake of vaccines among health workers.
- Vaccine skepticism is higher than average among those working in healthcare. Three out of ten say according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that they are reluctant to be vaccinated.
- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine had to warn frontline staff that they must act now if they want a vaccine anytime soon.
- In recent days, the US has broken records for the highest daily increase in new COVID-19 cases and the highest daily death toll.
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In U.S. nursing homes and hospitals, a surprising number of health care professionals refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
As many as 80% of staff refuse a vaccine in some institutions, according to AP. AP said it is unfounded about the side effects of these life-saving shots.
The two vaccines administered in the US are FDA approved, meaning the benefits outweigh any possible risks. In addition, none of the vaccines in major clinical trials have caused major safety problems.
Nevertheless, there is skepticism among health care workers and the American public at large.
Dr. Joseph Varon, a physician in Houston for critical care, said more than half of the nurses in his unit object to being vaccinated for political reasons. “Most of the reasons why most of my people do not want to get the vaccine are politically motivated,” Varon told NPR.
In Portland, Oregon, dr. Stephen Noble, a cardiothoracic surgeon, told AP: “I do not think anyone wants to be a guinea pig. At the end of the day, as a man of science, I just want to see what the data shows. And give give me the full data. “
About a quarter (27%) of the American public are reluctant to get a vaccine, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The study shows that this is 29% of those who work in a healthcare environment.
In Ohio, 60% of state nursing home workers have decided against a vaccine, the governor said.
Gov. Mike DeWine has announced that he hopes to instill a “sense of urgency” among his health workers in his state by offering a stern warning. He told the front line that they could soon miss a vaccine if they did not act now, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
“Our message today is that the train may not be back for a while,” DeWine said at a news conference.
In other countries, there is also concern about the low intake of vaccines by front-line workers.
In North Carolina, public health officials have revealed that more than half of those working in nursing homes have so far refused to get a chance, according to AP.
A significant portion of West Virginia nursing staff also refuse to be vaccinated. About 45% said no to a COVID-19 sting, reports AP.
Martin Wright, who heads the West Virginia Health Care Association, blamed the rapidly spreading misinformation about vaccines: “It’s a race against social media,” he said.
Between 20 and 40% of frontline workers in Los Angeles also refused a COVID-19 shot, public health officials told the Los Angeles Times. In neighboring Riverside County, the newspaper says it is rising to 50%.
In an effort to increase vaccination rates among health workers, a number of administrators have decided to offer raffle tickets and free breakfasts at Waffle House in exchange for a jab, AP reported.
According to Bloomberg vaccine detection, the US has so far administered more than seven million vaccine doses.
The need to introduce the vaccine successfully has never been so clear. In recent days, the US has broken records for both the highest daily increase in new COVID-19 cases and the highest daily death toll.
Daily new cases of COVID-19 in the United States
World Meters
According to Worldometer, there were 307,579 new daily cases on Friday.
On Thursday, Worldometer showed that 4,245 people died from coronavirus-related complications,