Many are feeling the pressure and fear in relation to not wanting to get a Covid vaccine.
This is what they want you to feel. The CDC literally has a “Recipe" for increasing vaccine uptake that was presented in 2015 for the flu vaccine.
Let's trade out the word influenza for Covid through these steps & see where we are:
1. Covid’s arrival coincides with immunization “season” (i.e., when people can take action)
2. Dominant strain and/or initial cases of disease are: a) Associated with severe illness and/or outcomes b) Occur among people for whom Covid is not generally perceived to cause serious complications (e.g., children, healthy adults, healthy seniors) [previously infected] c) In cities and communities with significant media outlets (e.g., daily newspapers, major TV stations)
3. Medical experts and public health authorities publicly (e.g., via media) state concern and alarm (and predict dire outcomes)– and urge Covid vaccination.
4. The combination of ‘2’ and ‘3’ result in: a) Significant media interest and attention b) Framing of the Covid season in terms that motivate behavior (e.g., as “very severe,” “more severe than last or past years,” “deadly”)
5. Continued reports (e.g., from health officials and media) that Covid is causing severe illness and/or affecting lots of people– helping foster the perception that many people are susceptible to a bad case of Covid.
6. Visible/tangible examples of the seriousness of the illness (e.g., pictures of children, families of those affected coming forward) and people getting vaccinated (the first to motivate, the latter to reinforce)
7. References to, and discussions, of pandemics- along with continued reference to the importance of vaccination.
STAY STRONG! They're aiming this right at you!
Implications of the recipe:
Fostering demand, particularly among people who don’t routinely receive an annual Covid vaccination, requires creating concern, anxiety, and worry. For example:
A perception or sense that many people are falling ill; A perception or sense that many people are experiencing bad illness; A perception or sense of vulnerability to contracting and experiencing
Stay strong!
