As we wait for Congress to take its unsweet time with the COVID relief and stimulus bill – thanks to nonsensical GOP grandstanding to obstruct President Joe Biden and Democrats – we continue to learn more about the Biden war effort to produce enough vaccine for every adult in the country by the end of May.
We also learn more about another obstruction, a less intentional but far more dangerous one – vaccine resistance by nearly a third of Republican voters who staunchly favored Donald Trump. This one threatens the science-based push for a 70-85% vaccinated populace in order for the U.S. to reach herd immunity to the novel coronavirus.
Consider this Monday morning story from The Washington Post:
“Margaret, an 80-year-old retiree who lives outside Tulsa, has spent the past year living in fear of the coronavirus. She’s constantly worn masks, toted hand sanitizer and used drive-throughs to run her errands. Her age and preexisting health conditions – including heart failure, diabetes and blood clots – put her at elevated risk if she gets sick. But unlike many at-risk Americans seeking safety and an end to the pandemic, Margaret refuses to get a coronavirus vaccine.
“‘There’s too many unanswered questions,'” Margaret told The Post, agreeing to be interviewed only if her last name was withheld “because of concerns she might be harassed.” She fears possible vaccine side effects, like the headaches that some people have gotten from the second shot.