Vilsack Stresses That Rural America Need To Get Vaccinated

Surveys continue to show rural residents are less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and less likely to want to take the vaccine. However, Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, said the government must be more focused on getting the vaccine to rural America, for a variety of reasons.

"Rural America is a much older population and we know the risks of serious illness and death for that kind of occasion folks who get COVID who are older," Vilsack noted. "We also know that the health condition of folks in rural places that there's a higher level and chronic disease also is a warning sign in terms of COVID and you're ability to potentially get a more serious situation."

The Ag Secretary added if you do get very sick , adequate health care facilities may not be available in a timely manner. So, what is his message to farmers and ranchers?

"Going in and making the arrangement a local pharmacists they trust, or a local doc to be able to get that vaccine."

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