Houstonians Struggle With Frustration Over Vaccine Hesitancy As COVID Cases Climb

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

Today, Harris County raised its COVID threat level to red, recommending that all unvaccinated people to stay home if they can. This comes just two weeks after the county raised the level to “orange” because of significant and uncontrolled spread.

In addition to a surge of cases and hospitalizations, another way we know that COVID is spreading rapidly is that the Houston Health Department reported that the amount of the in the city's wastewater is currently 320% percent more than the highest level seen last summer.

Texas GOP official H. Scott Apley, has died of COVID only days posting online his skepticism over vaccines. Online posts regarding his death have been met with condolences to scorn as people weigh in their frustrations regarding each other's beliefs.

We all need to show each other respect and grace, but what about when the issue at hand

is a matter of life and death? When faced with factual information, does everything have equal footing? And how do we respect others’ feelings while still supporting facts?

Then, a virologist and vaccine explains and answers listener's questions.

Guests:

Ian Olasov 

Author of “Ask a Philosopher: Answers to Your Most Important and Most Unexpected Questions”
To learn more, check out these books recommended by Olasov

Vaccine Hesitancy Public Trust, Expertise, and the War on Science by Maya J. Goldenberg
How to Talk To A Science Denier by Lee McIntyre

Dr. Pei-Yong Shi 

Professor and John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Innovations in Molecular Biology at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

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