Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks on Nov. 4, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware.
Why Global Citizens Should Care
As COVID-19 vaccines begin to reach more countries, a sense of hope is developing around the world that the worst of the pandemic may soon be over.
But the next big challenge is to convince the public to get vaccinated once doses become available. Some people may be skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine given the extraordinary speed at which it was developed, while others continue to believe false claims that the virus is not real or that immunizations are used to harm or control people.
The lack of public confidence in a vaccine could be the final barrier to eradicating the virus that has harmed and killed 1.7 million people around the world.
In order to boost public trust in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, celebrities and politicians have begun to use their platforms to share their own experiences in receiving the shot.
These public figures below are spreading awareness on the importance of getting vaccinated and encouraging their followers and supporters to do so as soon as they can, for the benefit of all of society.
1. Prue Leith
The 80-year-old Great British Bake Off judge became one of the first people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. She got her shot on Dec. 15, a week after the UK began its rollout of the vaccine to the elderly, health care workers, and care home residents. After receiving her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Leith described the process as “amazing” and “so efficient.”
Who wouldn’t want immunity from #Covid19 with a painless jab?? #vaccinepic.twitter.com/BP8VTvAF9u
— Prue Leith (@PrueLeith) December 15, 2020
2. Ian McKellen
The celebrated British actor, who starred in The Lord of the Rings and the X-Men franchises, received his first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 16 at the Queen Mary University of London. After completing the process, McKellen, who is 81 years old, said he felt “very lucky,” and has “no hesitation recommending it to anyone.”
‘I really hope that, as more people get vaccinated, we will move further along the path back to a more normal way of life.’
⁰Sir @IanMcKellen joins the thousands of people who have now safely received the first dose of the #CovidVaccine. https://t.co/1e3nCAUFcBpic.twitter.com/FFW6jrKqEg— NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) December 16, 2020
3. President-Elect Joe Biden
The US president-elect publicly received his shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 21 at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. Biden thanked health care workers and also said the Trump administration deserves credit for its work on Operation Warp Speed, which helped to deliver a quick vaccine.
His colleagues Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley have also shared pictures of their immunization experiences, encouraging the public to take the first opportunity available to get vaccinated in the months to come.
President-elect @JoeBiden receives the COVID-19 vaccine. “I’m doing this to demonstrated that people should be prepared, when it’s available, to take the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/WSRtz3xmLt
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 21, 2020
4. Vice President Mike Pence
The US vice president got his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in a televised appearance on Dec. 18 in an effort to boost public confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. He touted the vaccine as a “medical miracle” and emphasized the reliability of its record-breaking development process.
Polls show Republicans are nearly 20 percentage points less likely than Democrats to get vaccinated for the virus, which means Pence’s publicized appearance could help sway his party’s voters to instill more trust in the COVID-19 vaccine.
Sens. Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Marco Rubio also posted pictures of themselves receiving the vaccine and emphasized its safety and efficacy.
We want to ensure every American: While we cut red tape, we have cut no corners when it comes to the development of this SAFE and EFFECTIVE vaccine. pic.twitter.com/aKAEzxUVd6
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) December 18, 2020
5. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
The New York representative also received the Pfizer-BioNTech on Dec. 18. But instead of broadcasting the experience in a televised event, she shared the process through her Instagram story to her 8.2 million followers on the social media platform. Ocasio-Cortez also posted information about potential side effects, safety, and the efficacy of the vaccine.
If you have any questions or unease about the COVID vaccine, I got you!
I’d *never* ask you to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself.
Yday per national security policy (PPD40), Congress began getting vaccinated.
I took the jab & am here to answer your questions. Ask away! pic.twitter.com/ZyBgXi7kRl
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 19, 2020
6. Joe Park
The 37-year-old Bachelorette star became a fan favorite in the current season of the show for being a “pure soul” and “too good for this world.” But besides being a beloved reality TV celebrity, Park is an anesthesiologist in New York who just received the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 17. Like Ocasio-Cortez, Park documented his immunization experience through an Instagram story, and also posted an informational video about the vaccine on his Instagram feed.
7. Stephanie Elam
The Los Angeles-based CNN correspondent took part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial, receiving a shot on Dec. 9 at Ark Clinical Research in Long Beach, California. Elam shared her experience through a video and first-person piece for CNN, hoping that she can help “demystify” the process for people with hesitation, especially people of color.
Public opinion data consistently shows that Black Americans have the least interest in getting a COVID-19 vaccine among other racial groups, with only 42% saying that they would “definitely” or “probably” get it as of November.
“As a Black American, I do hope that other Black Americans will see this and say, ‘OK, I can have more faith in our science here,’” Elam told People. “But if there’s anyone who connects with this or feels influenced by this, that is fantastic.”
Science can help save lives. I put my body where my mouth is and signed up for a Covid-19 vaccine trial. Here’s my experience. https://t.co/XIG3Jqw4Ta
— Stephanie Elam (@StephanieElam) December 12, 2020
8. Sanjay Gupta
CNN’s chief medical correspondent has been on the news almost daily this year providing insight and expertise on the COVID-19 virus and vaccine. But when he’s not on TV, Gupta is at the hospital assessing and operating on patients, making him a high-risk health care worker. On Dec. 18, he received his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta as the process was televised on CNN.
Our good doc gets vaccinated! A great day for all of us @drsanjaygupta. Watch as he and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice @MSMPres get the @pfizer vaccine. pic.twitter.com/YgK9YNV4Jm
— Poppy Harlow (@PoppyHarlowCNN) December 18, 2020
9. Lionel Blair
Best known in the UK for presenting the quiz program Name That Tune, the 92-year-old actor received his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 16 in Surrey, England. After being filmed getting the jab, Blair said, “I’m hoping it’s going to make me live a bit longer. And seeing my grandchildren and children growing up. The whole thing means a great deal to me,” the Daily Mail reported.
Veteran entertainer Lionel Blair says he’s very thankful to get the COVID-19 vaccine, at @EpsomRacecourse – home to a temporary vaccination centre. pic.twitter.com/9YisJ25w8Q
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) December 16, 2020
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