By Guy Page
Essex County, the rural heart of the Northeast Kingdom, was the only county to vote red for Donald Trump in the November, 2020 general election. State officials say many residents also are showing ‘vaccine hesitancy’ – the term for unwillingness to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Is there a connection?
At his March 23 press conference, Gov. Scott promised skeptics vaccination “won’t be by forcing.” And he urged supporters of Pres. Trump to heed his advice.
Vermont Daily asked Gov. Phil Scott March 23 if there’s a connection – see video at 1 hour, 57 minute, 20 second mark: “Essex County, the vaccine resistance county, is also the only county that went for Donald Trump in November. Many people who voted for him believe they have good reason to be skeptical about whatever their government and media is telling them. Do you see a connection between skepticism about government and the media and resistance to vaccination? And if so, what would you tell them?”
Gov. Scott answered: “ Ifully appreciate the independent nature of those in the Northeast Kingdom. I think this has been historic. What we need for them to understand is that this
this vaccine is safe. Even former president Trump has come out and said and supported
people being vaccinated. He said it’s safe and it’s a good vaccine. I think those were his exact words. So hopefully they will listen to him or anyone that they have faith in and get the
vaccine because it truly will help them, their families, and get us back to normal.”
“There’s not much I can say to them,but we’ll continue to look for different approaches and hopefully they’ll come around,” Gov. Scott concluded. “But it won’t be by forcing. It’ll be from them wanting to receive the vaccine.”
Regardless of Trump’s advice and Scott’s promise that vaccination “won’t be by forcing,” skepticism about the vaccines themselves remains a serious concern for Vermont’s vaccine-hesitant. Elsewhere in today’s Vermont Daily, NEKTV program host Steve Merrill – the same chap who was booted off of the press conference queue for supposedly being a ‘hobby entertainer’ – reports his research on concerns about the makeup and experimental testing of the vaccines.