SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – Some Central New Yorkers continue to resist vaccination despite a rise in COVID cases nationwide. Last week at the White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing, response coordinator Jeff Zients revealed nearly half a million people are getting vaccinated every day.
However, in Onondaga County a portion of the population still remains unvaccinated. County Legislator Vernon Williams Jr. says while around 60% of the Onondaga population is vaccinated, nearly 40% are not.
Williams says many of the unvaccinated community members are sticking to their decisions based on misinformation about the vaccine.
¨Folks don’t want it for many different reasons on what they’ve heard about it,¨ or what they haven’t heard about it, Williams said.
Williams also went on to explain how the Delta Variant is cause for a greater concern, but that getting vaccinated can help keep people safe.
In an interview with Syracuse community members, Bethany Rhodes shared similar sentiments.
¨If you can get it, you should get it. I work with people who can’t get it and that’s fine,¨ Rhodes said.
Williams says the decision to get vaccinated has been skewed as a political issue, when really it´s a health issue. A health issue that needs to be addressed.
Williams said he respects individual rights, but he also recognizes the growing threat COVID continues to impose on the community. Williams says the best way to beat the virus and move forward to a new norm of living may be for folks to get vaccinated.
In efforts to keep people healthy, Onondaga County continues to hold vaccination clinics and testing sights in nearby neighborhoods. Vaccination information can be found online at the County Health Department website.
Williams also posts on social media in an attempt to further notify citizens on opportunities in the community.
