Political Leaders Speak Out On Low Vaccination Rates

Politicians around the country are changing their tune, now urging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

In Roger Mills County in Western Oklahoma, only 26% of the population is vaccinated. Now they are seeing the virus spread out of control. 

US Representative Frank Lucas, who represents Roger Mills County, is now urging residents to get the vaccine. 

Representative Lucas said in a column in the Tulsa World, “Whether you’re young or old, healthy or infirm, rural or urban, being fully vaccinated helps stop the spread of COVID-19 and protects you and those in your community from the complications of COVID.” 

Even though the Delta variant is more contagious, for those fully vaccinated, the vaccine is doing it’s job. The vaccine has an 88% rate of success in protecting individuals from the virus. While infections happen, they remain rare and the vaccine keeps the most dangerous symptoms at bay. 

“The point is to mitigate it, so people do not end up in the hospital,” said Dr. David Chansolme with Integris. 

Vaccine distribution has increased in the last week, giving some hope that health care workers will be able to get the pandemic back under control.