[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In some U.S. states where there was strong resistance to the COVID-19 vaccine, the number of people secretly getting vaccinated is increasing.
CNN reported on the 30th (local time) that "in Missouri, more people are coming to get vaccinated while hiding it from their family and friends."
Missouri is considered one of the states with low vaccination rates, along with Louisiana, Florida, Missouri, and Nevada. According to U.S. health authorities, one out of three new infections recently occurred in these five states.
A healthcare worker at a hospital in Missouri told CNN, "Those who got vaccinated in Missouri made decisions that were separate from the perspectives of their family, company, or friends."
They added, "They decided to get vaccinated on their own but do not want conflicts with others, so they cover their faces and visit the hospital. Sometimes they even ask, 'Please don't tell anyone that I got vaccinated.'"
The hospital is doing its best to accommodate them. The healthcare worker said, "For those who do not want their vaccination status to be known, we provide vaccinations at drive-thru sites or inside their cars. We give vaccines wherever they feel comfortable."
According to multiple studies, the COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection and severe worsening. Even in breakthrough infections after vaccination, the likelihood of hospitalization or death is low. In fact, according to U.S. health authorities, most of the recently increasing COVID-19 hospitalizations are among the unvaccinated.
However, only a small number of vaccine refusers have changed their minds. According to data recently released by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), most people who decided on vaccination status in January did not change their stance. Among those who said they would not get vaccinated, only 8% changed their minds.
Missouri's second-dose vaccination rate is around 41%, below the U.S. national average of 48%. It ranks 13th lowest among the 51 states. CNN reported, "Due to the low vaccination rate, Missouri has recently become the state with the highest rate of new infections per capita."
In the U.S., not only southern states with low vaccination rates such as Missouri, Florida, and Arkansas but also states with high vaccination rates like California and Massachusetts are experiencing a surge in cases due to the spread of the Delta variant and breakthrough infections.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), from the 19th to the 25th, the U.S. had 500,332 new confirmed cases, the highest in the world. Concerns are rising that the U.S., which pushed hard for vaccinations after President Joe Biden took office, may once again become the epicenter of COVID-19 spread.
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