Editor's note: Haider Rifaat is a features writer for OK! Pakistan, an international edition of OK! Magazine. He is also a writer for Arabian Moda and South China Morning Post and serves as the creator and host of Pakistan's first web talk show – The Haider Rifaat Show. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN. 

In the U.S., the Republican Party has incessantly lobbied against Democrats to stir anti-vaxxer hype in the face of the global pandemic. In a time of immense sociopolitical and economic distress, misleading rhetoric surrounding COVID-19 vaccines achieve quite the opposite of what the world demands, which is a complete escape from the pandemic. Unfortunately, it is against the backdrop of this false narrative that many Americans are choosing not to get vaccinated. From a scientific standpoint, however, getting inoculated appears to be the only logical way forward.

Rising COVID-19 cases in many U.S. states are directly proportionate to higher rates of vaccine hesitancy. According to Johns Hopkins University, Alabama, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Florida, Nevada and a few others have the highest rates of vaccine reluctance.

Wyoming, being the U.S. state with the highest rate of vaccine hesitancy, has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates, according to Kaiser Health News (KHN). The state has also reported one of the highest rates of emerging coronavirus infections. Additionally, Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan held that 130 civilians who lost their lives to coronavirus last month were unvaccinated. If the low vaccination drive continues to grip parts of the country in light of vaccine skepticism, the U.S. could soon experience a deadlier wave of the virus going forward. States with the lowest vaccination rates remain vulnerable to the novel Delta variant, which could exacerbate a national health crisis in the coming weeks.

What further challenges the Biden administration is unvaccinated youngsters winding up in hospitals and on ventilators due to COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youngsters are opting for vaccines at a slower pace than adults. If the trend continues, adolescents could become easier targets of COVID-19, especially once in-person learning resumes this fall. 

Alabama, Oklahoma and Arizona have already banned the use of masks in schools. These states have also barred schools and colleges from submitting evidence of COVID-19 vaccination. If masks and vaccination requirements are banned for school and college students, educational institutes could easily become the new COVID-19 hotspots.

The Biden administration devised a plan earlier to get influential, young celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo on board to persuade more youngsters to get vaccinated. Biden even posted an image of himself in his younger years in an attempt to appeal adolescents to get their vaccine shots. However, this move seems impractical. Fans adore celebrities for their personal work. 

Artists do not hold power to reverse an anti-vaccine narrative that is deeply entrenched in America right now. It is also unwise to use artists solely for the purpose of politics. Not choosing to get vaccinated is a personal choice for many Americans. Incentivizing them to get vaccinated through public pressure is a misguided move.

The biggest enemy of America in its fight against the coronavirus epidemic is the Republican Party. Many Grand Old Party (GOP) lawmakers across U.S. states are lobbying to pass bills, banning vaccine requirements while hoping Americans would have the choice to get immunized. Tennessee recently halted numerous routine vaccination programs for youngsters, in addition to COVID-19 jabs, because Republicans exercised their power and influence to rally against them. 

These GOP members, if not all, are making concerted efforts to bar workplaces and educational institutions from requiring COVID-19 vaccines. It seems as if the Republican Party is largely responsible for trying to impede Biden’s efforts to have all Americans immunized. Conservatives have politicized COVID-19 vaccines, and expect the national health crisis to remain as it is just to give Biden a hard time to pull through it. They are certain that if he fails, it would affect Democrats in the next election cycle.

The U.S. is already reporting at least 23,000 daily infections, up from 11,300 cases reported three weeks ago, according to The Wall Street Journal. Republicans are largely to blame for spreading anti-vaccine hysteria in the country. Their efforts have resulted in low vaccination rates, rising coronavirus infections and deaths. If the GOP continues with its political gimmicks, it would be a major challenge for Biden and his affiliates to pull through a COVID-19 dilemma.

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