My best friend is a Republican

[podex101]

Yes, my best friend and his wife (John and Christy) are Republicans...... She was the first person to get the vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine). My wife and I got them a few weeks after. John got them soon after us. Now we are all fully vaccinated.
We live in a politically conservative area in Alabama. 90% of our conservative neighbors are vaccinated already. My wife is medically trained, Christy is a manager at a Clinic, John woks for Walmart and I am retired.
I believe and trust in the science behind the research, development, production, and deployment of the vaccine. All of us had our unique doubts about the final produce. Of all my friends vaccinated only one had noticeable effects apart from the sore spot where it was injected; a little fever, chills, feeling like crap, all lasted about a day and then it went away.
I also heard a conversation between Christy and her son about the vaccine. She told him: "As soon as the vaccines are available for you, get it. I don't want you getting people sick because you were too lazy."

Just felt like sharing this little bit of news from the Great State of Alabama.

R.

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Welcome to DU.

Your experience with friends from the GOP is not a normal one for most of us. We have lost so many friends over Trump I have lost count. One of them my husband works with at the University, he glares at my husband every time he sees him now. We were friends, close friends for over 20 years pre-Trump.

Others we have lost over the science related to COVID. I'm glad your friends get it, but the large majority of Republicans do not!

[Siwsan]

2. My hardcore trumper cousin was fully on board with getting vaccinated

He wants to be able to travel and see his grandkids. I admit I was shocked when he told me of his vaccination plans. He's so far right on the political twist that he doesn't even think I should have the right to vote. Yea, he's said that.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. Then your neighborhood is unusual for Alabama.

Mississippi and Alabama have been among the worst for vaccination percentages according to the CDC and others.

Johns Hopkins (MS and AL at the bottom):
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/us-states


CovidActNow (MS, LA and AL at the bottom):
https://covidactnow.org/?s=1812730

There's political/social "bubbles" everywhere in this country, so you might be really fortunate in your area.

[Indykatie]

4. I Think Many GOP Will Get Vaccinated and Just Not Share The Fact for Fear of Criticism n/t

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. I hope so, but it's not like health departments...

... are simply polling people.

Every state is recording Covid-19 vaccination information, except for New Hampshire for whatever reason. (They might record immunizations in some other way, but I'm not sure.)

When there's a coronavirus vaccine, how will we make sure everybody gets it? That's the job of state immunization registries.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/06/12/coronavirus-vaccine-state-immunization-registries/5321892002/

Ohio, as just one example.
https://www.ohiopublichealthreporting.info/Enrollment/FileSystem/HL7/Public_Instructions_to_access_ImpactSIIS_record.pdf
"COVID-19 vaccine providers in Ohio are required to report patient information into the ImpactSIIS system
when the COVID-19 vaccine is administered. If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio, your
information should be in the system."


Hence the redder, Trump-supporting states are definitely lagging behind with vaccinations so far, in general.

[Scrivener7]

6. Okay.

[stopdiggin]

7. thanks. encouraging.

things would have been better if we hadn't made this political (understatement) -- but that wouldn't have accounted for all the vaccine and medically adverse people out there either.

[mahina]

8. Heartening.

Might as well be the other side of the moon for us. We can’t make any sense out of the people who come here and won’t wear masks or get vaxxed. I’ll admit we started thinking people there are just bonkers from Fox poisoning.

It’s very nice to read your post and gives me hope for our country. Aloha.