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Congressman Krishnamoorthi Questions Experts On Strategies For Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy, Highlighting Importance Of Easing Vaccine Access And Choosing the Right Messengers (Not Scolding Politicians)

July 1, 2021

WASHINGTON – In today's Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi questioned Dr. Katy Milkman, Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions at The Wharton School of Business, on strategies for overcoming vaccine hesitancy through initiatives including public lotteries and information campaigns as well as community and social media outreach efforts. In response to the Congressman's questions on combatting vaccine hesitancy among young people, Dr. Milkman emphasized the importance of choosing trusted public figures as vaccination messengers while reducing barriers to young people getting vaccinated.

"The success we've achieved this year in returning to normal has only been possible through the effectiveness of our national vaccination efforts, but we will only ultimately end this pandemic through overcoming vaccine hesitancy and achieving universal inoculation," said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. "As today's hearing reaffirmed, increasing vaccination rates among young people demands we reach them where they are through using trusted public figures, and not scolding politicians, to make the case for inoculation, while bringing vaccines to where they are through reducing barriers to access. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both these efforts in Washington as well as with community leaders within my district. I urge everyone who has not yet gotten vaccinated to do so, for their own sake, that of their loved ones and neighbors, and so we can end this pandemic for good."

Footage of Congressman Krishnamoorthi's question line is available here.