State Health Officials Working To Counter COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

Indiana health officials say they’re working on multiple fronts to help counter COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Hoosiers.

Indiana is one of the worst states in the country in the percentage of its population vaccinated against the virus – despite more than 1,000 vaccination sites statewide.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the state is working on populations with lower vaccination rates – rural Indiana and Black and Latinx communities.

“We’re working with community leaders, who the community trusts, that have been vaccinated and can carry the same messages that we give here on a regular basis,” Box said.

READ MORE: How Will Indiana Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines? Here's What You Need To Know

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Box said state leaders and health officials can’t afford to get frustrated or judgmental.

“What we need to do is listen to people," Box said. "Are they scared? Did they have a bad reaction or a bad result? Have they not known anybody that had an adverse effect or reaction to COVID-19?”

Box said the state is also actively working to get more doses to individual doctor’s offices and primary care providers.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.