Karl W. Smith, Columnist

Hey, Biden, Trump Could Be Your Best Vaccine Friend

Want to persuade reluctant conservatives to get jabs? Start with a joint White House ceremony.

July 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM UTC

Karl W. Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Previously, he was vice president for federal policy at the Tax Foundation and assistant professor of economics at the University of North Carolina.

Together again?
Photographers: Brendan Smialowski, Jim Watson, Morry Gash/AFP via Getty Images

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Here’s a simple step — but not an easy one! — that President Joe Biden could take to fight vaccine hesitancy as it spreads across the U.S.: Enlist the support of former President Donald Trump.

It’s no secret that conservative politicians and commentators have been some of the most vocal skeptics. Counties that voted for Trump have lower vaccination rates (35%) than those that voted for Biden (47%). At this point, there are probably only a few things that the federal government and public-health authorities can do about it.