April 26, 2021
The U.S. has enjoyed a surprisingly effective vaccine rollout over the last couple months (hiccups notwithstanding) and got 50 percent of its eligible adults vaxxed up well ahead of expectations. But there are signs that the U.S. is hitting a ceiling in terms of people who want to get vaccinated, with a huge surplus of available doses and a dwindling supply of people who want them. There are a number of reasons for this, and one of them is vaccine hesitancy and skepticism people who mistrust the scientific data on vaccinations and would rather take their chances on COVID-19. Now, a new study says one big key to convincing such skeptics to change their tune is faith leaders.
Survey: Faith leaders key to combat vaccine hesitancy among religious and QAnon believers
Faith-based approaches to combating vaccine hesitancy could be crucial to achieving herd immunity. Herman Simmons, left, makes a vaccination appointment for Theopulis Polk, right, at a Chicago laundromat on March 6, 2021. Simmons is a community outreach worker enlisted by St. Anthony Hospital. “I see myself as my brother’s keeper. I don’t try to force them. I’m persistent,” he said. In a race to boost vaccination rates as COVID-19 variants spread, U.S. communities are working to overcome mistrust and improve access among people of color. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)
This article originally appeared on Raw Story
On Saturday, CBS News reported that evangelical leaders are becoming more aware that their congregants aren t listening to public health advice on COVID-19 and are taking a more active role in trying to get them vaccinated.
One of the key evangelical leaders behind the effort is Franklin Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham and a religious adviser to former President Donald Trump.
Advertisement: Jesus does tell the story of a man that was beaten and robbed and left for dead on the side of a road, and religious leaders walked past him and did not have compassion, they didn t get involved. But a Samaritan had compassion, said Graham in an interview with CBS. And he immediately bandaged he put oil and wine on his wounds and took him to an inn, and paid to have him cared for. Now the oil and wine were the medicines of that day . . . The vaccine is, to me, I believe, is saving life, and that s what Jesus Christ
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Evangelical leader Franklin Graham believes Americans should get the COVID-19 vaccine. The missionary told CBS News that he thinks Jesus would want people to get their shots, and he s turning to Scripture and the parable of the Good Samaritan to make his case.
It s a case that will need to be made clearly if evangelicals perhaps the most under-discussed group with high levels of vaccine hesitancy can be persuaded. Jesus does tell the story of a man that was beaten and robbed and left for dead on the side of a road, and religious leaders walked past him and did not have compassion, they didn t get involved. But a Samaritan had compassion, Graham told CBS News in an interview. And he immediately bandaged he put oil and wine on his wounds and took him to an inn, and paid to have him cared for. Now the oil and wi