COVID-19 Task Force weighs urgency to vaccinate against offending those who remain opposed
As the Delta variant continues to spread, increasing the number of new COVID cases, the Pine Island COVID-19 Task Force discussed various ways to educate the community regarding the virus as well as the importance of getting vaccinated. Having its recent fact-sheet available in Spanish and speaking to island leaders, such as the Beacon of Hope and church officials about distribution was a high priority.
Task Force member Jim McLaughlin suggested handing out the information in food bags distributed regularly to islanders.
“I think we know we’re now dealing with the real hesitant population, so we’re not expecting really high engagement, but if we can pick off 5 or 10 percent, that’s 5 or 10 percent we wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Sue Dahod, another Task Force member.
Dr. Daniel Hanley said no one has been reaching out to his Bokeelia clinic regarding vaccines. He suggested the Task Force err on the side of caution moving forward.
“I feel like we’re maybe being considered kind of pushy, and people may be turned off to our messaging,” said Hanley, admitting having seen vaccination resistance first-hand at Mango Mania. “I think people will get the shot when they want to and not a second before.”
While Dr. James Koopman agrees with Hanley, he feels the Task Force should be doing all it can to encourage those who remain unvaccinated to get their COVID vaccination. The variants, he said, especially the Delta variant, will adapt to specific populations enhancing transmission.
“As I study the variants more, and the whole process of variation, it’s quite possible that we have some specific adaptations,” he said.
Hanley reiterated that gaining the trust of the community is paramount, saying those who are concerned about COVID have already likely gotten the vaccine, and those who are not, haven’t. His recommendation is that the Task Force become a part of the conversation within the community, spreading good information whenever invited to do so.
Another Task Force member, Helen Fox, said people who have gotten vaccinated have a responsibility to reach out to unvaccinated friends and family members in an effort to persuade them to protect the community by stopping the spread of variants by getting vaccinated.
Making information available, Fox said, is a low-pressure way to try to reach the vaccine-resistant community.
“I think that if we visualize ourselves as influencing those who understand the issue to be positive in talking to other people and giving subtle social messages, that’s the way we’re going to reach those who are very resistant,” said Koopman. “I think those who are very resistant can be changed. They will not be changed if we don’t do anything.”