The vaccination drive is lagging far behind in many Amish communities across the United States, following a wave of virus outbreaks that swept through them during the past year. In Ohio’s Holmes County, home to the nation’s largest concentration of Amish, just 14 percent of the county’s overall population is fully vaccinated.
While their religious beliefs don’t forbid them to get vaccines, the Amish are generally less likely to be vaccinated for preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough. Though vaccine acceptance varies by church district, the Amish often rely on family tradition and advice from church leaders, and a core part of their Christian faith is accepting God’s will in times of illness or death.
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Many Amish in America Unsure About Vaccination
July 04, 2021
FILE - People in Amish country prepare a horse team to work on a farm in Pulaski, Pa., Wednesday, June 23, 2021. The vaccination drive is lagging far behind in many Amish communities. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Almost 180 million Americans about 54 percent of the population have received at least one
dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Experts say low vaccination rates could permit the virus to become stronger and spread easily again.
Trust and use of the vaccine is less common in rural areas of the United States, especially among Amish people. They are deeply religious Christians who reject much of modern life. One large community of Amish lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Stars and Stripes - Amish put faith in God s will and herd immunity over vaccine stripes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stripes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Amish community vaccine rates trail behind as they put faith in God s will and herd immunity Share Updated: 4:33 PM EDT Jun 28, 2021 By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press
Amish community vaccine rates trail behind as they put faith in God s will and herd immunity Share Updated: 4:33 PM EDT Jun 28, 2021
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Show Transcript TO THIS COMMUNITY. SUSAN: AMISH AND PLAIN PEOPLE NUMBER ABOUT 25,000 IN LANCASTER COUNTY. HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE HOPING MANY OF THEM WILL STEP UP AND GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE, BUT IT COULD BE A CHALLENGE. WE FOUND IN GENERAL THE PLA COMMUNITIES ARE LESS LIKELY, A LITTLE BIT MORE HESITANT TO THINK ABOUT PREVENTION, LESS LIKELY TO GET ANY TYPE OF VACCINE. SUSAN: LGH IS NOW HOLDING VACCINATION CLINICS AT THE FULTON FIRE COMPANY IN PEACH BOTTOM AND AT A SITE IN PARADISE, AREAS WITH LARGE AMISH POPULATIONS. THAT WASN’T LOST ON JANE KEY GOT HER SHOT HERE. SHE I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHY THEY PUT IT IN