Steve Mitchell has been polling Republicans in the state of Michigan for over 30 years and has seen a split involving the coronavirus vaccine.
“When you ask, ‘Will you get vaccinated?’ And people say, “No or I’m not sure,” 25% of Democrats say, “No, or not sure.” 50% of Republicans say “no” or aren’t sure they’ll be vaccinated. he told CBS News’ David Begnaud.
He said he believes the difference of opinion “exists because of the ideology of philosophy that Republicans have.”
“If you start with that fundamental distrust of big government and the unpleasantness of government regulations and now they’re going to inject it into my arm? They’re going to start not wanting it,” Mitchell said.
One such person is Chris Howe. He is a curator living in Clarkston, Michigan, where he runs his own parquet business. Howe said he and his family fell ill with COVID-19 earlier this year and experienced mild symptoms, prompting him to question the mortality of the virus 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 hesitant people like Howe, Michigan’s local health departments partner with community leaders, such as religious groups.
A recent Marist poll conducted in collaboration with NPR and PBS NewsHour found that 49% of Republican men said they would not get the vaccine when they were available.
GOP National Party leaders are trying to address vaccine hesitation among Republicans, especially Republican men, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who recently asked people to get the vaccine and said : “We need to get this vaccine. To put it aside.”
In an interview with Fox News, former President Donald Trump said the vaccine has been taken. “It’s a fantastic vaccine. It’s a safe vaccine. It’s something that works,” he said.
Howe said he has not heard enough information from sources he trusts to make him want to receive the shot, and while vaccines have been considered safe and effective by doctors around the world consistently, he said not only the moved.
“When I walk into stores, I’m civilian and I wear a mask and all that. The mask is nice, the social distancing. I’ll do it,” Howe said. “What I would change my mind about and to get it is they come out and say,‘ If you get this vaccine, you won’t give it to anyone else. If you get this vaccine, you will not get it. ‘If it’s where I think I’m hurting the rest of the population, I’ll get the shot. If I have to travel and go somewhere, I will. “
“Won’t you get the shot?” Begnaud asked.
“Probably not. Probably not,” Howe said.