The dangers of misinformation have become especially evident over the last year. Claims about the risks of the Covid-19 vaccine that have been spread by unreliable sources have hurt vaccination efforts. If not enough Americans are fully vaccinated, the U.S. will never be able to reach herd immunity. Without vaccination, people run the risk of contracting mutations of the virus, which will make this pandemic continue for far longer than it should. 

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that almost 50% of Americans have received at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, millions of Americans are skipping their second dose, and millions more have expressed hesitation about the vaccination. Daily vaccination rates continue to plunge. 

This hesitation stems from mass online misinformation about the vaccine and the risks that unreliable sources claim it poses. So while doctors and medical professionals urge Americans across the country to get vaccinated, people choose to believe lies and rumors circulating social media about the unfounded dangers of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

The spread of misinformation, thus, has never been more alarming. With Los Angeles County allowing walk-in vaccinations and many other counties across the U.S. doing the same, vaccinations are now being made easily accessible for Americans. The decisions of anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers, and those who continue to circulate misinformation about Covid-19 and the vaccine put the health of our communities at risk. 

Vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit estimates that 80% of the population will need to be immune to the virus in order to prevent prolonging the pandemic. 

“If we don’t get there to 80%, then I think you’ll see another surge of this virus next winter. And then with the winter…we have a big resurgence, maybe we have variants coming in from other countries, and we could start this whole process all over again and have another huge pandemic come the winter,” said Dr. Offit. 

Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is a civic responsibility everyone must answer. With the Pfizer vaccine now having been approved by the CDC for 12- to 15-year-olds, a majority of the population is eligible for vaccination. Efforts to curb this pandemic will only be successful if everyone does their part by receiving their vaccine and achieving herd immunity. 

It’s the moral obligation of Americans to get vaccinated. Circulating misinformation, ignoring the reputable voices of doctors and medical professionals, and not doing their part in ending the pandemic is deliberately choosing to be civically irresponsible and to put our communities in danger. As Dr. Anthony Fauci says, we should strive to be part of the solution. Be a virtuous citizen, and go get vaccinated. 

Graphic courtesy of NBCNEWS.COM