HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — There's still vaccine hesitancy in our communities. A new poll reveals a significant number of Republicans could avoid vaccination.
Our WZDX News reporter has insight from doctors about how this would affect the possibility of reaching herd immunity.
"The reality is we have enough information to know on its safety and efficacy," says Huntsville Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Ali Hassoun.
A new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 42% of Republicans say they probably or definitely will not get vaccinated.
"It might have some reluctance again, just because they might not truly understand the technology behind the vaccine. But again, once that's answered people go ahead," says Alabama Department of Public Health, Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers.
Landers says people who are avoiding vaccination are a small fraction of the population. "So really in terms of hesitancy, we are looking at an extremely small group of people that will just not take that vaccine under any circumstances," she says.
Landers believes herd immunity is within reach. "I do think more people will take that vaccine and I think we will reach a level of immunity. No one is quite sure what that number is," she says.
Hassoun also says there is a chance of herd immunity. However, he believes the chances are greater if we eliminate phases for vaccination in Alabama.
"It's possible, and that's why I'm more in the opinion that we should open the vaccination to everyone," he says.
When asked about the supply, Hassoun says that was a problem when vaccination initially started.
"I think by now, and you see it in other states, the more we use - hopefully the more doses we're gonna get allocated as well. And I think that's Alabama's issue in there as well," says Hassoun.
