Tens of millions of Americans—including 60 percent of young Republicans—say they'll refuse the COVID vaccine.
I spoke to 11 of them. I asked them where their views came from and what might change their minds.
Here's what they told me:
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
I spoke to 11 of them. I asked them where their views came from and what might change their minds.
Here's what they told me:
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Four themes emerged from our conversations:
1. The "no-vaxxers" never thought the pandemic was a serious threat to them, and they resent the idea that they need a pharmaceutical intervention to get back to a normal life that they never wanted to stop living.
1. The "no-vaxxers" never thought the pandemic was a serious threat to them, and they resent the idea that they need a pharmaceutical intervention to get back to a normal life that they never wanted to stop living.
2. Many people I spoke to said they had already tested positive for COVID and felt confident in their natural immunity.
(Since this group took fewer precautions last year, it would make sense that a higher-than-avg share of them would have antibodies.)
(Since this group took fewer precautions last year, it would make sense that a higher-than-avg share of them would have antibodies.)
3. As they don't perceive a high risk from the pandemic, they regularly emphasize the downsides of the vaccines. They'll say the shots were rushed by corporate firms they don't trust, and that they're "authorized for an emergency" that is overblown.
4. They've come to really, really hate the Democratic-liberal-public-health nexus and have decided that they're better off doing the opposite of whatever that group says.
In a nutshell, I'd say this is the "deep story" of American vaccine refusal:
"I trust my own cells over a Big Pharma experiment. I trust my mind over liberal elites."
That position correlates with politics (see graph); but it's not explicitly a political position.
"I trust my own cells over a Big Pharma experiment. I trust my mind over liberal elites."
That position correlates with politics (see graph); but it's not explicitly a political position.
So, how do we persuade the no-vaxxers? Here are three ideas.
1. Make it suck more to not be vaccinated.
Some states (eg, MI) are linking re-openings to vaccine thresholds. This sort of soft bribery might work, but it's highly flammable cultural war kindling.
1. Make it suck more to not be vaccinated.
Some states (eg, MI) are linking re-openings to vaccine thresholds. This sort of soft bribery might work, but it's highly flammable cultural war kindling.
2. What if: DoorDash for vaccines?
It's pretty easy and great to get vaccinated. But we could make it even easier and greater. Some vax hesitancy might dissipate if state health depts offered rewards, or a free-delivery vaccine service to ppl's homes.
It's pretty easy and great to get vaccinated. But we could make it even easier and greater. Some vax hesitancy might dissipate if state health depts offered rewards, or a free-delivery vaccine service to ppl's homes.
3. Consider the lives of strangers.
The most effective line in my conversations with no-vaxxers was something like: "Your immune system might be good enough for you; but in a world of variants, the vaccines are better at protecting others."
The most effective line in my conversations with no-vaxxers was something like: "Your immune system might be good enough for you; but in a world of variants, the vaccines are better at protecting others."
Shaming the no-vaxxers won't change anybody's mind. Our focus should instead be on making vaccinations even easier and on broadening the no-vaxxers' circles of care: "Your cells might be good enough for you; the shots are better for others."
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
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