Central Connecticut Physicians Appear in National Video Urging Patients to Get Vaccinated for COVID-19

HARTFORD, Conn., March 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With nearly a third of the U.S. population admitting they may not, or simply won't, get the vaccine, Starling Physicians has teamed up with physicians across the nation in a viral video initiative inciting Americans to "roll up our sleeves together" and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Feeling a duty to their patients and fellow Americans, Starling Physicians has joined forces with doctors from Wilmington, NC, to Honolulu, Hawaii, to create the "Roll up Our Sleeves" website  and video campaign. The goal is to educate those who are expressing doubt or opposition and urge everyone that "it's time" to get vaccinated and help save lives.

Already, COVID-19 has taken the lives of over 500,000 Americans, and over two million worldwide. Despite this staggering—and growing—number, a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Research shows about one in three Americans definitely or probably will not get a vaccine.

"We are seeing a lot of hesitancy about the vaccine," says Sarit Patel, M.D., Chairman of the Executive Board at Starling Physicians, who appeared in the national video.  "That's why we wanted to participate in the national campaign -- to help send a message to Americans about the need for everyone to get vaccinated, which will help create herd immunity." 

'Herd immunity,' or 'population immunity,' happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection. The World Health Organization recommends creating herd immunity by vaccination. Anthony D. Fauci, M.D., Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Advisor to the Biden Administration, reports that 70 to 85 percent of the U.S. population would have to be vaccinated in order to obtain herd immunity.

Reasons for the opposition are varied, ranging from concerns about safety and effectiveness to the belief that the vaccine has not been thoroughly tested.  For people of color, who have made up nearly 60 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S., the message is especially urgent. According to research released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 35 percent of Black Americans are reluctant to get vaccinated.

The public service initiative is a combined effort between agilon health, an organization that champions the roles of independent physicians, and primary care doctors representing more than 50 independent physician practices across the country. Their goal is to combat the doubt felt by an alarming percentage of Americans who say they have no plans to get vaccinated.

The "Roll Up Our Sleeves" video highlights the effectiveness of vaccinations over the past century, such as polio, mumps, and measle vaccines, which have wiped out infections and drastically reduced mortality rates. Thewebsite contains information about the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, side effects, phases of eligibility, tips about how to sign up for vaccines, and resources for healthcare professionals.

If you are a Starling patient, you can call the vaccine hotline at 860-368-2271 for more information. For details and locations available for receiving the vaccine, visit www.starlingphysicians.com.

View the national video here.

View the local video here

SOURCE Starling Physicians