WASHINGTON – As the Biden government seeks to streamline the federal government’s pandemic response, it’s also ready for a comprehensive campaign that encourages Americans to take the coronavirus vaccine when it’s available, officials say.
However, this effort is now only aimed at Americans who are eligible to receive the vaccine – especially among communities where people may be skeptical about taking the shots – because the government is struggling with low-supply issues, officials said.
“The last thing we want to do is say ‘go out and shoot’ when there is no stock,” an administrative official explained.
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According to officials, the targeted campaigns, which had already begun in the first weeks of the Biden administration, focused mainly on minorities.
Several new attempts to reduce vaccine hesitation launched by the Biden administration have targeted Black Americans, 43 percent of whom say they want to “wait and see” how the vaccine works for others before getting it themselves, according to a recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
For one new attempt, the Centers for Disease Control is working with NFL Alumni Health, including legendary players Warren Moon and Franco Harris, to encourage African Americans to get the vaccine.
The CDC also funds efforts for groups such as the National Urban League and the Conference of National Black Churches to build confidence in the vaccine. And there’s a new social media campaign – #VaccineReady – during Black History Month to reduce vaccine hesitation, facilitated by the Office of Minority Health at the Health and Human Services.
On Monday, Morehouse School of Medicine, in partnership with HHS, plans to launch the national Covid-19 Resiliency Network, which includes a digital component that helps people find places for coronavirus testing and the vaccine using their zip codes.
At the same time, the government is trying to reduce the skepticism about the vaccine within other communities, including military families. On Thursday, First Lady Jill Biden, Dr Anthony Fauci and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley appeared in a virtual forum with Blue Star Families to encourage members of the military and their families to take the vaccine. “If it’s your turn, please get vaccinated,” Fauci told the forum.
Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet said the group found in a recent survey that more than half of respondents “do not currently feel comfortable getting the vaccine, and many remain undecided. “
“Their concerns range from mistrust in the vaccine development process, its safety, overall efficacy and the possibility of unknown side effects,” she said during the virtual event.
Similar concerns occur in rural communities. The Kaiser Family Foundation study found that rural residents in the Americas are much more likely to say they will definitely not take the vaccine than in urban areas, with a difference of 21 to eight percent.
Aside from some of the deliberate efforts to secure vaccines, many of Biden’s government messages are well-known – wearing a mask, social distance.
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For a broader campaign when vaccine supply has increased, administrative officials are looking for ways companies can help, and exploring ideas, such as giving employees a workday to get the vaccine. They also discuss how to reach a variety of audiences, possibly through sports organizations from the NFL to NASCAR and a variety of celebrities to local doctors and pastors in communities across the country.
“It’s definitely part of our commitment to launch a massive public service campaign,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday. “It takes some time to get all your ducks back together and get it going, but part of what we’re also trying to do is use our experts to be there in public.”
The government faces major challenges in achieving the goal of herd immunity by the summer, according to a Monmouth poll released on Wednesday.
More Americans are expressing concern about the impact of coronavirus than at any time during the pandemic. Nevertheless, one in four respondents say they will not get the vaccine if they can help.
Heidi Przybyla and Kristen Welker contributed.