Republicans divided on difficulty of pushing vaccines

America is grappling with a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, but Republican lawmakers remain divided over whether to push millions of reluctant GOP voters to get vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Leader of the minority in the Senate Mitch mcconnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Senate unanimously passes bill to strengthen victims of crime fund Schumer feels pressure from all sides on spending strategy GOP centrists call on Schumer to delay vote on PLUS infrastructures (R-Ky.) Has been arguing for months that the vaccine works and will help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.

But many grassroots Republicans continue to show apathy towards the national immunization campaign, downplaying the severity of the coronavirus spike and saying the decision is a personal choice for individuals and families.

representative Barry LoudermilkBarry LoudermilkHouse Republicans call for hearing with Capitol Police Board for first time since 1945 Democrats seek to keep the spotlight on Capitol HQ GOP lawmaker calls for FBI review claiming baseball shooting was a ” suicide by a cop »MORE (R-Ga.) Has tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the past year. He thinks the virus is something Americans just need to live with.

“It’s something that we deal with daily in our life; since I was born there have been diseases, there is the flu, there are different diseases, ”Loudermilk, 57, told The Hill on Tuesday. “I probably have a much higher chance, because of my age and where I live, just the demographics of the South and the way people eat, of having heart disease as much as I do. ” have contracted COVID. “

“But it’s a personal liability issue, and these people are willing to take that risk because they think, ‘Look, it’s more likely if I get COVID to just get out of it. The majority of people don’t end up in the hospital, ”he said.

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisOrlando newspaper hits DeSantis for trip to Texas amid spike in COVID-19 cases in Florida Lawmakers introduce bipartisan Free Britney Act DeSantis downplays increase in COVID-19 PLUS cases, a former House member often mentioned as a possible 2024 GOP presidential candidate, dismissed the spike in cases in his home state, calling it a “seasonal virus” that will subside next month.

The mixed posts about vaccines from elected Republican officials have helped fuel the spread of disinformation in conservative circles on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. A new Yahoo News-YouGov poll found that 37% of unvaccinated people believe vaccines pose a greater health risk than the virus itself.

And new daily vaccinations in the United States have now slowed, even though there are many doses available for the tens of millions of American adults and teens who have not been vaccinated.

It is not clear whether U.S. health officials can reverse this trend given the alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in recent days. The delta variant now accounts for 83% of all new cases in the United States, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyNight health care: Fauci still clashes with Paul | New York Reaches $ 0.1 Billion Settlement With Opioid Distributors | Delta variant accounts for 83% of COVID-19 cases in US Major medical associations release PSA urging CDC director for vaccination: Delta variant accounts for 83% of all COVID-19 cases in US MORE testified before the Senate on Tuesday. That’s a 50% increase since July 3.

The increase in delta cases has also led to an almost 48% increase in COVID-19-related deaths, now to 239 per day, Walensky said. Almost all of those deaths were from people who had not been vaccinated, what she called an “unvaccinated pandemic”.

“Every death is tragic and even more heartbreaking when we know that the majority of these deaths could be prevented with a simple, safe and available vaccine,” Walensky told Senators.

The speed at which the highly contagious delta variant is spreading has prompted at least one skeptical Republican to act.

Home minority whip Steve scaliseStephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseScalise Cites Delta Variant For Decision To Get Vaccinated On Sunday Six Takeaways: What FEC Reports Tell Us About Midterm Elections The controversy equals money for Greene, Gaetz MORE (R-La.) Said he received his first Pfizer vaccine on Sunday, although federal lawmakers have had access to the vaccine since December. The No. 2 GOP leader told his local newspaper that “now is the right time to do it” after seeing the aggressiveness of the delta variant and a spike in new cases; he said he tested positive for antibodies months ago and believed he had some immunity to the coronavirus.

“I have been vaccinated, many of my colleagues have been vaccinated, and the vaccine is safe, effective and it is widely available all over the United States of America for anyone who wants to get it,” Scalise told reporters. at the Capitol Tuesday. .

The Louisiana Republican credited the former President TrumpDonald TrumpOn money: Schumer puts pressure on spending strategy from all sides | GOP hammers HUD chief over slow rental aid | Democrat proposes taxes on commercial spaceflight Night healthcare: Fauci clashes with Paul – again | New York Reaches $ 0.1 Billion Settlement With Opioid Distributors | The Delta variant accounts for 83% of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Defense overnight: Military justice review included in defense bill | Pentagon watchdog to examine ‘nuclear football’ safety | Pentagon carries out first airstrike in Somalia under Biden MOREOperation Warp Speed, which accelerated the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and hit President BidenJoe BidenKentucky lawmaker comes under scrutiny for comparing Fauci to Jonestown cult leader Omar leads lawmakers to call on US envoy to fight Islamophobia The Public Charter School Group explodes the democratic cut proposal and Vice President Harris for asking during the 2020 campaign if the vaccines were rushed.

“I have great confidence in the process that was used to deliver these vaccines,” added Scalise. “In fact, it’s not just about saving lives in America, but also about saving lives around the world through American ingenuity.”

Other high-ranking Republicans – including some in Trump’s deep red country – are taking a much more aggressive approach, urging their constituents to get vaccinated, even though they are showing signs of frustration with the situation.

“I am intensely worried about this. I see the increase in infections and hospitalizations in Oklahoma, as well as statistics across the country. My neighbors need to be vaccinated, ”said the representative. Franck lucasFrank Dean LucasRepublican Divided Over Difficulty Pushing On The Money Vaccines: Schumer Lobbyed From All Sides On Spending Strategy | GOP hammers HUD chief over slow rental aid | Democrat proposes taxes on commercial space flights Republicans hammer HUD chief over slow rental aid MORE (Okla.), The top Republican on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

“I think there is an inherent suspicion in anything that involves government at any level, and that’s the result of that. And whether you’re a very careful Republican or someone for that matter, we all need to be vaccinated, ”Lucas added. “Who would want to have a disease when it is possible to get vaccinated and greatly increase the ability to prevent it?” “

The nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases has struck near their homes for lawmakers this week. representative Vern BuchananVernon Gale BuchananPLUS (R-Fla.) Said he tested positive, although he was fully vaccinated earlier this year.

And a senior assistant to the President Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiEthics panel maintains 0 mask fines against Greene, other GOP lawmakers Trump says he will meet with Cheney challengers ahead of approval Pelosi weighing GOP picks for Jan. 6 inquiry MORE (D-Calif.) And a White House staff member tested positive for the coronavirus after coming into contact with a delegation of lawmakers from the Democratic state of Texas who fled their state to protest the efforts of the GOP to pass a strict voting bill; six members of the delegation staying in the DC area have since tested positive.

The development sounded the alarm bells on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. The masks had been absent from the Capitol for weeks, but Pelosi and his entourage of employees and security personnel were spotted all sport masks as they entered a closed-door caucus meeting. Dozens of Hill employees and reporters have also been seen donning masks, although a mask warrant has not been reinstated.

“The Delta variant virus has been detected in Washington, DC and in the Capitol buildings. This poses a serious health risk to unvaccinated people, ”Capitol Hill attending physician Brian P. Monahan wrote to lawmakers on Tuesday. “It is now endangering many areas of the United States where vaccination rates are low. “

Officials are also concerned that increasing delta cases could threaten economic recovery as American families re-examine the safety of indoor shopping and dining and vacation travel at a time when American life seemed to be recovering on its own. rails.

“I just had a video conference with Federal Reserve staff. … That was one of the topics of our discussion: whether a new variant or spread of COVID could harm what we all hope to be an economic recovery, ”the representative said. Mike johnsonJames (Mike) Michael Johnson McCarthy and the GOP face a tricky dance on January 6. Few companies stick to pledge to halt funding for GOP objectors GOP divided over anti-Biden mid-term message MORE (La.), Member of the GOP leadership.

“There are so many headwinds, so many challenges right now, we don’t need them. So I think we are all watching it very closely.