Michael Lynch
Graves did not object to the vaccine but did not want the Covid-19 vaccine, even after Vice President Mike Pence publicly gave it on television.
Elizabeth Graves, 50, an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, has had a variety of vaccines for the flu, pneumonia and even wanted a shingles vaccine.
Medical staff preparing for the Covid-19 vaccination at Indiana Medical University in Indianapolis on December 11 Photo: Reuters.
But the woman living in Starkville, Mississippi said she did not want the Covid-19 vaccine.
Lawrence Palmer, 51, an engineer in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, and Brandon Lofgren, 25, who works in his family's construction and transport business, have the same opinion as Mrs. Graves.
This is a paradox of the pandemic.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 18 approved the emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna, a week after licensing the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation last week showed that the American public is largely in favor of the vaccine, with 71% saying they are ready to get the vaccine when possible, up from 63% in September.
Many experts are optimistic that vaccine skepticism will subside over time as people see their friends and loved ones get the shots without problems.
"When there is more information and things look better, I will weigh the risks of the vaccine against the risks of Covid-19 and make a decision," she said.
Political leaders from both parties have worked hard to dispel public doubts about the vaccine.
Vice President Mike Pence vaccinated Covid-19 at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, near the White House, on December 18 Photo: NYTimes.
"I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Everything is fine," said Vice President Pence, adding that he wanted "to assure the American people that even though we ignore the obstacles, we do not burn the stage".
However, these efforts are not enough to make many Americans believe in the new vaccine.
Lofgren thinks similarly.
Experts say that to achieve "public immunity" and fight off the virus, they need 75% of the population to be vaccinated.
They added that President Trump's involvement in the vaccine confidence-building effort could have a huge impact on his supporters.
In many interviews, Trump supporters even said that the pandemic is being overblown.
In addition, conspiracy theories, such as the CoV created by China and Democrats to harm Trump's political future, or the vaccine containing chips that allow the government to spy on people, have raised skepticism.
"There is no citation or evidence of any chip or anything nefarious in it," she said.
