I recently saw a cartoon depicting a child raising his head and asking about the scar on her mother’s arm. The mother pointed out that the scar came from the smallpox vaccine, and the little girl asked her why it didn’t. The mother’s answer was simple and quick: “Because it works.”
Smallpox vaccine is one of them The earliest successful vaccineIt was so successful that the last known outbreak of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. 1980 World Health Assembly The official announcement that smallpox has been eradicated.
Many of us remember to get vaccinated before the start of the new school year, or take our children to the pediatrician for the first immunization, or go to our local pharmacist to get the flu vaccine.In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that there are 14 diseases you almost forgot Probably because they are preventable, thanks to the development of vaccines. If we are vaccinated against diseases such as polio, tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella, we don’t have to be afraid of them anymore.
Despite the historical success of vaccines, and vaccines (including COVID-19 vaccines) must undergo a rigorous review process, acceptance in Arkansas is still slow.In fact, although Full vaccination rates for U.S. adults Over 60%, only about 45% of adult Arkansas are fully vaccinated.
In order to increase the acceptance of vaccines, I recently started a series of “COVID Community Dialogues.” I am traveling to Arkansas with public health officials to listen to and try to resolve concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. In these conversations, I heard Arkansas express concerns about the speed of vaccine development, the possibility of unknown side effects (especially infertility), the desire to maintain personal choice, and many other concerns.
Some of the most valuable responses to these comments usually come from local doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and neighbors. Local healthcare professionals explained the benefits and success of the COVID-19 vaccine. They explained the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process, the trials that have been conducted, and the data analyzed to ensure the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines. Often equally influential are the personal stories shared by community members and fellow Arkansas. Stories about hoping to be able to hug relatives in nursing homes, and stories about losing loved ones because of not being vaccinated.
As a result of these gatherings, community leaders shared their professional and personal reasons for supporting vaccines. We have seen many people decide to vaccinate after these events. What this growth tells me is that people listen to the opinions of people they trust. Watching these interactions also demonstrates the personal nature of the vaccination decision. For those who are still skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine, I encourage them to contact trusted healthcare representatives, community leaders and friends to learn more about why the vaccine is beneficial.
I decided to get the vaccine as soon as I met the conditions. It is important for me to be able to visit my family, interact with Arkansas people and continue the tremendous progress that Arkansas is making. I believe we will continue to see others stand up to protect themselves and their neighbors. We can protect each other’s safety together. Together, we can keep America strong and free.