Biden urges religious leaders to tell people to get vaccinated against COVID-19

• Biden urged religious leaders to tell members of their community to get vaccinated.
• “When they’re in your shrines, you can talk to them about what we need to do,” Biden said.
• A poll has shown that white evangelical Christians are particularly skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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President Joe Biden on Thursday called on religious leaders to urge members of their communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We need you to spread the word. Let people in our communities, in your communities know how important it is to get everyone immunized when it is their turn,” Biden said in a weekly call with religious and community leaders. “And soon they’ll just be able to line up and just put their name on a list. And this is how we will defeat this virus. And that’s how we’re going to come together again in our communities, in our places of worship, in my opinion. “

Biden said he worries people are getting too “cavalier” about COVID-19 as states across the country see spikes in cases.

“We are not done with this,” the president warned, adding that while some people regard the COVID-19 protocols as an “imposition on human freedoms”, he considers adherence to public health recommendations as ” a good thing to do. “

“Protect your brother and sister. That’s what it is about. It’s about protecting people. It’s a patriotic duty that I think we have,” Biden added.

The president told religious leaders their followers would be more likely to listen to them on these issues, imploring them to use this influence to get people to get vaccinated.

“When they’re in your sanctuaries, you can talk to them about what we need to do, what’s available, and don’t be afraid – don’t be afraid to get the vaccine,” Biden said.

Although the United States has administered more doses of COVID-19 vaccines than any country in the world – about 29% of the population has received at least one vaccine – there is still hesitation around the vaccine. A poll showed that Republicans and white evangelical Christians are particularly skeptical of the vaccine. The Biden administration has expressed concern that the continued reluctance will undermine the country’s ability to achieve collective immunity.