MAY 28, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9
Biden is failing on concerns
of vaccine hesitancy
other
VOICES
By MARC A. THIESSEN
The Biden administration’s COVID-19
vaccination effort is faltering. Just 37.8%
of Americans have received both doses
—well short of President Joe Biden’s 70%
goal—and the vaccination rate in the
United States has slowed from its April
peak. We’ve now reached the point where
everyone eager to get their shot has got-
ten it. The challenge has shifted from
ensuring supply meets demand to creat-
ing demand by convincing vaccine-hesi-
tant Americans to get their shots.
The good news is that, according to
Gallup, only about 16% of the unvacci-
nated don’t trust vaccines in general.
The rest are persuadable. So why are
they hesitating? Gallup found that 24%
are waiting to confirm the vaccines are
safe, 21% are in no rush because they are
not afraid of getting seriously ill from
COVID, and 17% are concerned about the
speed with which the vaccine was devel-
oped. It’s the job of our elected leaders
to address these concerns—and they are
failing miserably in doing so.
The first step is for our fully vac-
cinated leaders to start acting like it.
President Biden continues to undermine
public confidence in vaccines by wearing
his mask outside when the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention says he
does not even have to wear it inside. Vice
President Kamala Harris was recently
pictured kissing her husband through
a mask, even though both are fully
vaccinated.
All of this signals a lack of trust in
the effectiveness of the vaccines. If you
thought it was irresponsible of President
Donald Trump to refuse to wear a mask,
it is equally irresponsible for Biden to
wear one now that he has been vacci-
nated. If he wants hesitant Americans
to get their shots, Biden needs to make
clear that when they do, they can ditch
their masks, stop social distancing and
live their lives again.
Second, we need to change the way
we talk about the vaccines. Politicians
know that in any campaign, words mat-
ter. Republicans failed for years to get
rid of the “estate tax” but found more
success as soon as they rebranded it the
Letters
Thank you
MCFD#1 voters
To the Editor:
Marion County Fire District #1 wants
to thank residents for passing a local
option levy in the recent election. This
revenue is critical to reduce response
times that were increasing as a result of
personnel layoffs last year when funding
“death tax.” The words we choose can
change public perceptions—sometimes
dramatically.
The same is true when it comes to vac-
cines. People who are vaccine-hesitant
are not going to be convinced by appeals
to get “vaccinated.” Why not urge them
to get “immunized” against COVID-19
instead? The terms are interchangeable
and familiar to most Americans. Every
parent has had to fill out their chil-
dren’s “immunization record” for school.
But unlike vaccination, immunization
focuses on the result of getting your
shot—immunity. And who doesn’t want
to be immune to COVID-19? It won’t
convince die-hard anti-vaxxers, but it
certainly could make a difference with
the hesitant but persuadable majority.
Third, where are the ads for the
vaccines? We’re inundated with TV
commercials from pharmaceutical com-
panies. So why are Pfizer, Moderna and
Johnson & Johnson not flooding the
airwaves with similar ads touting the
life-changing impact of their COVID-19
inoculations? Answer: The government
won’t let them. The FDA bars companies
from marketing drugs approved under
an emergency use authorization without
commissioner approval. They’ve been
allowed to do some limited, generic ads
touting the value of getting vaccinated
and the power of science, but they can’t
mention their products by name or cre-
ate anything resembling the slick, multi-
million-dollar campaigns for other drugs.
This is insane. Barring marketing of
emergency use drugs may make sense
when they are approved for limited dis-
tribution to a discrete population. But
the federal government has set a goal
of inoculating every eligible American
against COVID-19. It’s in the national
interest to allow pharmaceutical compa-
nies and their well-paid ad agencies to
inundate the airwaves with creative cam-
paigns selling their life-altering effect
of the vaccines. If anything, the Biden
administration should be spending some
of the $1.9 trillion it recently secured
from Congress to support those efforts,
instead of restricting them.
The Biden administration did a good
job of accelerating delivery of the vac-
cines, but it is doing an awful job selling
them. Through bad example, poor lan-
guage and needless regulation, it is hin-
dering the vaccination effortCOVID-19
and with it the end of the pandemic.
(Washington Post)
was cut.
We will move forward immediately
to rehire nine firefighter/paramedics
positions. Doing so will guarantee a fire
engine in service 24 hours a day, which
means we can respond to emergency
calls faster.
We will continue to report back as
these positions are filled and when the
engine is back in service. Your support
makes this possible, and we are extremely
grateful. Thank you again for partnering
with us to save lives and property.
Kyle McMann, Fire Chief
Marion County Fire District #1
PUBLIC SQUARE welcomes all points of view. Published submissions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Keizertimes
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31,
a day when Americans honor the men
and women who have paid the ultimate
sacrifice in duty to their country.
Across the nation flags will be sol-
emnly placed at the gravesites of those
who died while in uniform. It doesn't
matter if they died in battle on land,
sea or air, or if they perished in a tragic
accident—all those souls have earned
the respect of their fellow citizens who
live under the freedoms they swore to
protect.
How can we civilians mark Memorial
Day 2021? For those who have family
members interred at a national or other
cemetery, visiting the gravesite with
flowers, to pause and reflect is a per-
sonal way to honor the fallen soldier.
Those whose families are untouched
by military death can honor America's
fallen military members with a few
minutes of remembrance.
Some see Memorial Day as a three-
day weekend. At gatherings, people
joining together for recreation can be
part of the national day of memoriam
by imparting the history of the sacrifice
of our armed forces to the children in
attendance.
On the local level, Keizerites can pay
their respects by visiting Pvt. Ryan J.
Hill Park at Keizer Station, named in
Editorial
honor of our city's only casualty of the
war in Iraq.
The men and women who are called
to serve their country and give their
lives are to be honored and respected.
When an American dons a uniform,
our hope is they will return home
safely. Unfortunately, that doesn't
always happen. Hundreds of thousnds
of Americans have fallen while serving.
We will never forget them.
—LAZ
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