Public polling has shown Republicans are less likely to get the coronavirus vaccine than Democrats. A PBS Newshour/NPR/Marist poll released Thursday found 41 percent of Republicans said they would not get the shot, and a CBS News poll released late last month found 34 percent of Republicans said they will not be vaccinated for COVID-19.
The disparity presents a serious problem for a Democratic administration coming out of a contentious election season, mainly because Biden, Vice President Harris, former President Obama and other high profile Democrats are unlikely to persuade enough conservatives to get the shot.
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“We recognize as a Democratic administration with a Democratic president that we may not be the most effective messenger to communicate with hardcore supporters of the former president, and we have to be clear-eyed about that,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki