The Next Phase Of Vaccinations

President Biden is turning toward communities that have been hesitant to get vaccinated

Spencer Platt/Getty Images Spotlight: Lagging Vaccine Rates At Rural Hospitals President Biden’s latest goal post in the coronavirus pandemic is to have 70% of Americans receive at least one dose of a vaccine by the Fourth of July. But this next stretch of vaccinations will look different than the administration’s push in the first 100 days.  Now, the attention is on people who are more hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including rural Americans. The emphasis comes as rural hospitals are raising alarms about the pace of vaccination — even among their own employees. Focus groups show people who are hesitant about getting the vaccine are most likely to listen to their own doctors, rather than the government. So part of Biden’s strategy now is getting more doses directly to those crucial care providers.  But in some rural areas, even the medical workers themselves need more convincing. A new survey conducted by the National Rural Health Association and Chartis Center for Rural Health showed that 30% of the 160 rural hospital executives who responded said less than half of their employees had been vaccinated — even though health care workers have been eligible for months now. Only about a third said that 70% or more of their staff were vaccinated. The CEO of the National Rural Health Association, Alan Morgan, calls the trend “tremendously problematic” and an issue “that needs to be fixed now.” — Dana Farrington, NPR Politics digital editor Read more Newsletter continues after sponsor message Andrew Spear for NPR Book Review: Elizabeth Warren’s ‘Persist’ Elizabeth Warren was (and is) a storyteller. Her 2020 presidential campaign speeches were a series of one-two punches: stories that got people right in their feels — and then policy prescriptions to make sure no one else ever had to, for example, rely on an Aunt Bee for child care as she did as a single mother with two small children. This is precisely what Persist is. It's a series of stories, then plans. It's campaign-trail Warren, in book form. However, her storytelling — so electrifying in person — is flattened on the page. For those who don't subscribe to her progressive politics, Persist will almost certainly be too didactic. Though it just might delight those who revel in her unique mix of down-to-earth-ness and policy expertise. Unless, that is, those fans want score-settling. Persist is not primarily a 2020 campaign recap. The only fellow Democratic candidate she has many unkind words for is Mike Bloomberg. — Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political reporter Read more Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Politics emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy