COVID-19 Vaccine needs balanced educational campaign
Now that a vaccine is a few days away from emergency U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval there is hope that solutions to tackle the COVID19 pandemic are underway. Yet, these efforts will require trustworthy elected leaders to be completely forthcoming about the facts of the vaccine and for the public to participate fully and equitably. That can only happen with public trust and in order for that to materialize, a massive vaccine educational campaign is needed. Full transparency from the companies producing the vaccine and pragmatic government action based on scientific recommendations will also be vital for a COVID19 vaccine to succeed.
In the name of equity and tax fairness, Illinois recently witnessed heavily funded multi-million dollar ad campaigns for and against a graduated income tax. Our state needs those same political, business, labor and other community influencers to invest in public service ad campaigns that educate the people of Illinois on the COVID-19 vaccine. Now is the time for those that have the resources, to use their wherewithal and invest in media campaigns that will also bring about fairness but will go even further and save lives. It is their duty to make a considerable difference in this vaccine campaign just as much if not more than their advocacy on the income tax topic. This vaccine campaign needs to be apolitical unlike the face mask measure which so quickly divided Americans and diminished overall effectiveness against the virus.
The vaccine efforts cannot be linked or labeled as "The Trump's shot" and conversations should not be about repeating sound bites but rather honest dialogue about actual scientific and medical evidence.
The COVID19 vaccine which has been proven to be highly effective according to initial results will also require people to be convinced of the benefits of vaccine participation based on their own free will and not by threats or forced mandate. It is important to note that if the vaccine is approved by the FDA later this month, it will only be under "emergency authorization."
This denomination indicates that the study on the vaccine continues to be monitored but has demonstrated high effectiveness and could help save countless lives now. Thus, instead of waiting, the vaccine is ready to be rolled out while still being further studied.
Our elected leaders should limit discussion on mandating or forcing people to participate until the studies are conclusive and there is plenty of evidence including from peer-reviewed scientific journals. If and when the FDA denominates the vaccine fully by "standard approval" will the mandate policy conversation be acceptable. Until then, our best way to encourage the public to participate is through education and facts that accentuate the safety and risks of the vaccine.
Here is some helpful information that can help educate others on the value of the COVID-19 vaccine:
* There as several companies making corona virus vaccines including: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca etc.
* The vaccines up for FDA emergency approval this month, Moderna and Pfizer have shown protection rates of over 90%.
* The FDA requires corona virus vaccines to be at least 50% effective.
* The effectiveness of the corona virus vaccines have shown efficacy rates similar to measles, mumps, chickenpox, and polio.
* Moderna and Pfizer vaccine require two doses, several weeks apart and cold temperature storage.
* The Food and Drug Administration approves vaccines, U.S. Center of Disease Control gives recommendations on vaccine use, and local health departments are responsible for distribution plans.
* Side effects experienced by some from the vaccine include flu like symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and pain around the injection site.
* How long the corona vaccine lasts is still uncertain as well as if people that take it can still spread the virus.
The prospects of a corona virus vaccine are promising but worthy of genuine and realistic conversations. As much as we would like the vaccine to be absolutely perfect and without risks, we need to be careful to vaccinate with expediency while at the same time properly informing the public, and monitoring the process.
There are some "antivax" efforts that have sought to discredit the corona virus vaccine.
We need to galvanize greater resources and put together an effective public information campaign to educate people the vaccine's pro's outweigh its possible drawbacks. Savings lives is worth the time spent on debunking myths and countering misinformation.
While doing so we need to continue the safety measures that have mitigated the virus so far including mask use, social distancing and washing hands. The COVID19 vaccine should be one that supplements these measures and a life saving tool that we embrace pragmatically, with equity and united.
[Froy Jimenez is a CTU member in good standing, also formally on the ctu's political action committee and ran for the Illinois 1st Senate District seat. Even though Froy was endorsed by many organizations and both newspapers in Chicago the teachers union leadership unilaterally decided to go against their own member in his Senate District race]
