Steve Mitchell has been questioning Republicans in the state of Michigan for over 30 years and has seen a rift that the coronavirus vaccine.
“If you ask, ‘Are you getting vaccinated?’ And people say, “No or not sure,” 25% of Democrats say, “No or not sure.” 50% of Republicans say, “No,” or they’re not sure they’ll get vaccinated. That’s a huge difference, he told CBS News’ David Begnaud.
He said he believes the disagreement “exists because of the ideology in philosophy that Republicans have.”
“If you start with this basic mistrust of big government and an aversion to government rules and now they’re going to shoot this in my arm? They’re going to start not wanting it,” Mitchell said.
One of those people is Chris Howe. He has a conservative life in Clarkston, Michigan, where he runs his own hardwood flooring business. Howe said he and his family got COVID-19 earlier this year and experienced mild symptoms, which makes him wonder how deadly the virus is and the need for a vaccine.
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” he said. “I got it and I didn’t die.”
To target those who have doubts about vaccines, such as Howe, Michigan’s local health departments are working with community leaders, such as faith groups.
A recent poll of Marists in conjunction with NPR and PBS NewsHour found that 49% of Republican men said they wouldn’t take the vaccine if it’s available to them.
Vaccination hesitation among Republicans, especially Republican men, is something the GOP national party leaders are trying to address, including Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, who recently asked people to take the vaccine and said, “We need to take this vaccine. slid. “
In an interview with Fox News, former President Donald Trump said he took the vaccine. “It’s a great vaccine. It’s a safe vaccine. It’s something that works,” he said.
Howe said he hasn’t heard enough information from sources he trusts to make sure he wants to get the shot and while the vaccines are consistently considered safe and effective by doctors around the world, he said he just won’t get through it. hit.
“When I go to stores, I’m civilized and wear a mask and things like that. The mask is beautiful, the social detachment. I will,” Howe said. “What would change me and to get this is they would come out and say, ‘If you get this vaccine, you’re not going to give it to anyone else. If you get this vaccine, you won’t get it.’ “When it comes to where I think I’m hurting the rest of the population, I get the chance. If I have to travel and go somewhere, I get the chance.”
“You don’t get the chance?” Begnaud asked.
‘Probably not. Probably not, ”Howe said.