A Monmouth poll this month showed that only 36% of Republicans said they had received at least one shot of the vaccine -- compared with 67% of Democrats and 47% of independents -- and a stunning 43% of Republicans said they would likely never get the vaccine.[1]
In order to get Republicans to rally for Covid-19 vaccination, Joe Biden is going to have to be more bipartisan.
If Biden doesn't get GOP cooperation for a vaccination drive, the USA may never reach herd immunity.
This is Biden's biggest and most important challenge. If he doesn't rise to the occasion, the Covid-19 pandemic could dog his presidency.
Vaccination rates are down 42% compared to last month. Several states are canceling orders for more vaccines.[2] The Biden Administration has to be much more aggressive in tackling vaccine hesitancy. The Biden Administration should have regular vaccine press conferences with question and answer sessions. Have more vaccine ambassadors for various demographic segments of the USA. India shows the danger of being complacent.
Nixon went to China. Trump had a bromance with Kim Jong-un that netted some results.
Biden is going to be more bipartisan to have some bargaining leverage to elicit Republican support for vaccination. He has no other bargaining chips than can be used except bipartisanship.
Right now, there is a perverse incentive for Republicans to have Biden fail to conquer the pandemic in the USA. He has to somehow get them more partial credit for tackling the pandemic.
Neither the Democrats or Republicans are for people dying of a preventable disease. But there is indifference and inertia. Right now, there is starting to be more vaccine than Americans willing to get vaccinated in some areas. Joe Biden has to do something to break this trajectory.
Tackling Black/Hispanic vaccine hesitancy is a challenge (African-Americans have a history of being treated poorly by the medical system. Tuskegee Syphilis Study, etc.).
But the largest vaccine-resistant population is Republicans. So he has to break this logjam. He has no other choice. Playing the blame game and trying to blame Republicans is not going to work. Because as the Democrat President Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here". Many Americans will blame Biden if he fails to conquer the pandemic.
A good economy helps presidents getting reelected. And an ongoing pandemic in the USA is not going to help the American economy.
Four months ago, racial and ethnic differences in vaccination acceptance were large but they have since narrowed and no longer pose a major obstacle to the vaccination campaign. According to KFF, vaccine refusal stands at 20% for African Americans, 19% for Whites, and 16% for Latinos.[21]
So Republicans are one the biggest logjams as far a vaccination leading to herd immunity.
It comes down to trust and convenience. Republicans are apt to trust Republicans more. So Biden needs their help. He is going to have to give concessions to Republicans in exchange for more Republican support for vaccination.