Dear MoveOn member,
The United States is about to pass an important milestone, with 50% of the population having received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.1 After 16 months of fear, isolation, disruption, and devastating loss of loved ones, we are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
But experts say that we need 80% or more of the population to be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity—a goal that may be hard to reach if we don't fight back against the rampant lies, conspiracy theories, and misinformation about the vaccine being spread by Donald Trump and the right wing.2
We know that one of the most effective ways of convincing family, friends, and community members to take action is through social persuasion, meaning encouragement from people they know.
An easy way to do this is by proudly proclaiming that you have been vaccinated, which is why MoveOn has just printed a big batch of "Pro-Science, Pro-Health, Pro-Vaccine" stickers, and we're giving them away for FREE while supplies last.
As safe, effective vaccines have become widely available across the country, right-wing media and elected officials have begun to ramp up their misinformation campaigns—and those messages are spreading like wildfire on social media, directly leading to an increase in vaccine hesitancy.3
Tucker Carlson and Fox News know that they are spreading lies. Carlson has suggested that the vaccines are not safe.4 They are. He's entertained the idea that vaccines have killed thousands.5 They have not. And he even suggested that putting masks on your not-yet-vaccinated kids is a form of child abuse.6 Disgusting.
Vaccines are safe and the most effective way to end the nightmare of the coronavirus pandemic. But Carlson and Fox News continue to spread lies to make a profit and create further division in our country.
Carlson and the others spreading these lies are putting people's lives at risk, and we need to do everything we can to fight back and encourage everyone we know to get vaccinated—not just to protect themselves, but to protect their kids, their grandparents, their neighbors, their teachers, and those with compromised immune systems who are unable to receive the vaccine.
Thanks for all you do.
–Kelly, Corinne, Thad, Kathy, and the rest of the team
P.S. While the U.S. now has more than enough vaccine doses to inoculate the entire country, many other nations—particularly poorer countries—do not have access to enough vaccines and are seeing devastating surges in infections and deaths. MoveOn fully supports waiving patent protections and sharing vaccine supplies, formulas, and personal protective equipment (PPE) with the global community to eradicate this awful disease.
Sources:
1. "See How Vaccinations Are Going in Your County and State," The New York Times, May 13, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153312?t=5&akid=297481%2E40999114%2E_xY3Oi
3. "Vaccine hesitancy among Republicans emerges as Biden's next big challenge," CNN, April 24, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153313?t=11&akid=297481%2E40999114%2E_xY3Oi
4. "Tucker Carlson Falsely Claims the COVID Vaccine Is Killing People (Video)," The Wrap, May 5, 2021
https://act.moveon.org/go/153314?t=13&akid=297481%2E40999114%2E_xY3Oi
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
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