Celebrities Encourage Vaccination

The COVID-19 pandemic is on the way to its end. Over 87 million people are already vaccinated in the US and over 380 million people are vaccinated globally. However, there are still some discrepancies that appear, one being the choice of whether or not to get vaccinated. Some Americans are unsure about getting the vaccine and some do not want to get it at all. In light of this situation, many public figures have decided to use their platforms to encourage people to get the vaccine by getting the vaccine themselves. 

All of the former presidents, including Obama, Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Trump, have already been vaccinated. Prominent spiritual figures, such as Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, have also gotten the vaccine in an attempt to quell the worries of the general population. Pope Francis suggested that people have a moral obligation to get the vaccine. “It’s a moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others,” he said in an interview. 

Popular country singer Dolly Parton, who has a large fanbase, donated over 1 million dollars to fund the Moderna vaccine, and got vaccinated to show people that it was safe and beneficial. 

Students at RHS take different stances when it comes to celebrities encouraging people to get vaccinated. Some say “it’s a good way of encouraging people to get vaccinated. It doesn’t do any harm and it probably does good.” Others think that it’s “ Absolute hogwash. The fact that vaccines are already scarce and that the rich and famous are the ones to get them first, it’s complete codswallop.” At the end of the day, all that matters is that people are getting vaccinated and the Covid pandemic is being stamped out. If you get the vaccine, don’t stop following all the guidelines for public safety. Remember to wear your masks in public and keep 6 feet away from others!

Tarun Kalyanaraman
Staff Writer 

Graphic: Isabella Harelick