The pandemic will continue as a serious problem unless a significant number of unvaccinated people are persuaded to get the shot. That puts communications at the center of public policy.
A dangerous fourth wave of infections is filling hospital wards because a sizeable minority of Americans are refusing to get vaccinated. Authorities are casting about to figure out how best to convince the holdouts to change their minds.
Full approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Food and Drug Administration has helped. But more needs to be done.
At the heart of their challenge is a daunting fact. Many Americans don’t trust the “establishment,” a word that encompasses many things including experts, government officials and the media. When these sources urge compliance, a lot of people reflexively refuse.
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