- COVID-19 Community Corps seeks to overcome vaccine hesitancy in the United States
- Ten business groups among the founding members, committed to promoting vaccines as a way of supporting economic recovery
- Everyday Americans also encouraged to urge others to get vaccinated to help achieve herd immunity
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Several business groups have joined a coalition seeking to overcome vaccine hesitancy and assist with the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Community Corps debuted last week with 275 founding organizations, including leaders in public health, community, religious rural, minority, sports and entertainment, and LGBTQ+ organizations. The coalition includes 10 business groups:
- Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber (ACE)
- Black Economic Alliance
- Business Roundtable
- Minority Business RoundTable
- National Association of Manufacturers
- Public Private Strategies
- U.S. Black Chambers
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- U.S. Hispanic Chambers
- U.S. Women’s Chambers
Billions of dollars has been invested not only in bringing COVID-19 vaccines to more vulnerable communities, but also to promote messaging that encourages vaccination. It is anticipated that the supply of the three federally approved vaccines will be great enough to cover all adults by the end of May.
However, there are also concerns that vaccine hesitancy will make it more difficult to achieve herd immunity in the United States, especially as more infectious variants emerge. If COVID-19 continues to pose a serious public health risk, it could jeopardize the economic recovery in the U.S. as well.
The COVID-19 Community Corps is based on research showing that people are more likely to trust medical professionals, family and friends, and community leaders than they are to be swayed by political leaders in deciding whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The Biden administration has encouraged everyday Americans to encourage others to get vaccinated as well.
“As we look to the next stage of the recovery, employers know that our economy will return to strength only when we return to health—and science and smart planning will get us there,” said U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark.
Vaccine hesitancy has eased in recent months, according to polls from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While 32 percent of respondents in a January poll said they would not or likely would not get a COVID-19 vaccine, the share had fallen to 25 percent in March.
