Atlanta-Based Doctors Discuss Importance Of Combating COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy
Dr. Dhaval Desai, director of hospital medicine at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, and Morehouse School of Medicine’s Dr. Lily Immergluck return to “Closer Look” to discuss the importance of combating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
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Two Atlanta-based doctors agree that good health starts in the community — and it’s going to take collaborative work from everyone to combat COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy — and defeat the ongoing health crisis.
“As a health care worker and a health care provider, I think it’s important that myself and my colleagues take every opportunity to talk to patients about the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those that remain hesitant,” said Dr. Dhaval Desai, director of hospital medicine at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital.
Desai, an internal medicine/pediatrics specialist, and Dr. Lilly Immergluck, a physician-scientist and professor at Morehouse School of Medicine, were guests on Monday’s edition of “Closer Look.”
The guests’ appearance on the radio program happened on the same day that President Joe Biden announced that COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone ages 16 and over in all 50 states.
Immergluck, who serves as Morehouse School of Medicine’s site principal investigator for its participation in the U.S. COVID-19 Prevention Network, told show host Rose Scott that it’s essential to listen to the concerns of people who are hesitant about getting vaccinated.
“So, I think that we need to step back and think about who are these folks, why are they hesitant and address them concern by concern — through community engagement. I think that’s one thing that Morehouse School of Medicine, that we really started from the very get-go to do this.”
During the virtual conversation, both doctors addressed the historical distrust in science and vaccines and steps to take to reach herd immunity.
They also answered a series of coronavirus-related questions submitted by “Closer Look” listeners.
To listen to the full conversation, click the audio player above.
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