Health
Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy
Science-Based Strategies to Encourage Vaccination Acceptance and Build Public Trust
Vials of COVID-19 vaccines and syringes.
« Vaccine hesitancy has become a nationwide issue: What can science do about it?Pfizer Covid-19 Vaccines are lined up and waiting for students to attend the vaccine clinic at R.B. Stall High School vaccine clinic Wednesday April 28, 2021. MUSC along with CCSD (Charleston County School District held a vaccine clinic for students 16 and over at R.B. Stall High School Wednesday April 28, 2021.
Vaccine hesitancy has become a nationwide issue, not just in South Carolina, but across the United States. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus and keep people safe. However, many people are hesitant to receive the vaccine, which poses a significant challenge for public health officials and medical professionals.
According to a recent study by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), low levels of confidence in public health scientists and low levels of collective responsibility to prevent COVID-19 are the two most significant factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy. To combat this issue, scientists and health providers must focus on understanding these factors and developing targeted and effective response campaigns.
One way to overcome vaccine hesitancy is to educate health professionals to help patients understand the science and benefits of the vaccine. The MUSC study found that confidence in science and shared collective responsibility were the driving factors for increased hesitancy in South Carolina. By educating patients and communities about vaccine science and the benefits of certain shots, health professionals can help build trust and alleviate concerns.
Another critical step in combating vaccine hesitancy is to tailor vaccine and public-education efforts specifically for target populations. By understanding which factors are preventing people from receiving vaccines, scientists and health providers can develop targeted campaigns that address the specific concerns of those populations. This approach can lead to less vaccine hesitancy and leave the state better positioned for future outbreaks or pandemics.
Vaccine hesitancy is not a new issue, but the pandemic has exacerbated the situation. Distrust in the scientific community has grown markedly, leading to reluctance by some to accept not only the COVID-19 vaccine but even standard childhood shots. As vaccine hesitancy contributes to a rise in cases and mortality from diseases that we thought we had a handle on, it is critical that we address this issue head-on.
In conclusion, vaccine hesitancy poses a significant challenge to public health officials and medical professionals, but there are steps we can take to combat it. By focusing on understanding the factors contributing to hesitancy, educating health professionals and patients, and developing targeted campaigns, we can build trust and encourage more people to receive vaccines, ultimately helping to keep our communities safe and healthy.
Source: Medical University of South Carolina
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Lifestyle
Your Medicare Roadmap: What to Know Before You Turn 65
Sixty-five is more than a number. It’s a milestone. A moment to reflect on where you’ve been and look forward with confidence to what comes next. For millions of Americans, turning 65 also means unlocking one of the most valuable benefits you’ve earned: Medicare.
Last Updated on July 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) Sixty-five is more than a number. It’s a milestone. A moment to reflect on where you’ve been and look forward with confidence to what comes next. For millions of Americans, turning 65 also means unlocking one of the most valuable benefits you’ve earned: Medicare.
The best is still ahead, and it starts with knowing your options. The official source for Medicare information, Medicare.gov, is here to help with clear, trusted information.
The path to Medicare is not the same for everyone. Some people get Medicare automatically and others have to sign up. It depends on whether you are already getting Social Security. Either way, you’ll want to choose how you get your Medicare coverage.
Get information for your path at Medicare.gov, where you can find out when and how to enroll and explore your coverage options.
Understanding Your Medicare Coverage Options
When you first sign up for Medicare, you choose how to get your coverage. There are two main options: Original MedicareandMedicare Advantage.
Original Medicare is health coverage provided directly by the federal government. It has two parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.
- Part B (Medical Insurance) covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services (like screenings, vaccines and annual wellness visits) and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month and is typically deducted from your Social Security check.
With Original Medicare, you can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You can also add optional coverage to help manage costs:
- Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) helps pay your share of Medicare costs.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) helps pay for medications.
Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare that provides Part A and Part B and is offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. You still pay the Part B premium. Some plans charge an additional premium – though many carry a $0 plan premium and may even help cover part of your Part B cost. Most plans include in Part D drug coverage along with extra benefits like dental, vision and hearing. Keep in mind most plans require you to use doctors within the plan’s network.
5 Steps to Enroll with Confidence
- Use official sources. Go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for step-by-step, personalized guidance on coverage and enrollment.
- Start early. You don’t have to wait until your birthday. Explore your options now so you’re ready when your enrollment window opens.
- Know your enrollment path. Your path depends on your circumstances – some people are automatically enrolled and some are not. There are unique steps for people who are still working.
- Avoid late enrollment penalties. Missing your enrollment window can result in a permanent premium penalty for both Part B and Part D. Signing up on time protects your wallet for years to come.
- Compare plans and save. At Medicare.gov, you can compare plan costs side-by-side, based on the specific drugs you take. A quick comparison could save you money each year. You can also confirm your current doctors are in-network before you choose a plan.
Turning 65 is a milestone worth celebrating and it’s the perfect time to focus on what matters most: your health and well-being. That includes eating well, exercising and making sure you have health insurance that fits your needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all plan. What’s important is finding an option that works for you and your health and financial needs.
Start your journey at Medicare.gov – your roadmap to a healthier and confident future.
Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Health
Join the Fight Against ALS: Register and Make a Difference
Every year, doctors tell more than 5,000 Americans they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS. It is a life-changing diagnosis. In honor of ALS Awareness Month, learn more about the disease.
Last Updated on June 30, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Join the Fight Against ALS: Register and Make a Difference
(Feature Impact) Every year, doctors tell more than 5,000 Americans they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS. It is a life-changing diagnosis.
Still, it’s hard to estimate the total number of ALS cases in the United States. No one knows what causes most cases of ALS, something the U.S. National ALS Registry is working to change.
In honor of ALS Awareness Month, learn more about the registry, how the information is used and how to enroll if you have ALS.
What is ALS?
ALS is a disease that affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in the body. This disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die. The nerves lose the ability to trigger specific muscles, which causes the muscles to become weak and leads to paralysis.
What is the registry?
“The National ALS Registry is a program of, by and for those living with ALS,” said Dr. Paul Mehta, principal investigator of the Registry. “The program collects, manages and analyzes data about people with ALS in the United States. It includes data and information provided by individuals who choose to register and complete the risk factor surveys.”
What is its purpose?
The main purpose is to gather information that can be used in the fight against ALS. The information is used to:
- Estimate the number of new cases of ALS diagnosed each year
- Estimate the number of people who have ALS at any given point in time
- Better understand who gets ALS and what factors affect the disease
- Enhance research that could improve care for people with ALS
How do researchers use the data?
Researchers can use the data to look for disease pattern changes over time and try to identify whether there are common risk factors among people with ALS. Since 2010, the registry has funded more than a dozen studies exploring potential ALS risk factors.
What does participation look like?
Individuals with ALS are encouraged to share their stories, enhancing ALS data and supporting research efforts. People living with ALS can help the National ALS Registry by completing up to 18 risk factor surveys, covering topics such as occupational history and environmental exposures, which help create a more complete picture of their ALS story.
How can someone join?
Anyone living with ALS can enroll. By joining and taking the risk factor surveys, individuals living with ALS can help future generations.
Get started at cdc.gov/als.
SOURCE:
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Health
How Young Adults Can Build a Healthier Future
Bridging national service and public health, the initiative supports a diverse group of early career professionals working to address today’s public health challenges in a range of roles
Last Updated on June 29, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Shaping the future of public health into an equitable one means ensuring all people and communities have access to the health care and resources they need to live well. The nation requires a strong, diverse public health workforce to accomplish that goal.
That’s why AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched Public Health AmeriCorps – to support the recruitment, training and development of early career public health workers who can serve their local communities.
Bridging national service and public health, the initiative supports a diverse group of early career professionals working to address today’s public health challenges in a range of roles, including:
- Health education and training
- Community outreach and engagement
- System navigation, referrals and linkage to care
- Research, data collection, analysis and assessment
What Members are Saying
Everyone was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – including Dionne Johnson, who lost a loved one to the virus.
“I had a family member die from COVID-19, and it really touched me,” Johnson said. “That gave me the passion and lit the fire under me to actually pursue a career in public health.”
Now, Johnson is realizing her dreams of transforming public health in her community. In her work, she wants to teach people in Black and brown communities how they can learn to be healthy and advocate for themselves.
Another member, Jaiden Singh, is the son of immigrants. Singh launched a promising career in public health so he can give back to the community where he grew up.
“Being a part of the organization not only has really supplemented my education that I’m working toward in public health and policy, it has also given me the opportunity to do work that I am really passionate about in a community that I have known all my life and really do love,” Singh said. “I would highly recommend being a part of this really valuable and inspiring community.”
Action That Creates Impact
The diverse work of Public Health AmeriCorps benefits not only program members but also the communities they serve. As examples of the program at work, members have:
- Provided overdose rescue education, raised awareness about opioid use disorder and harm reduction strategies and distributed overdose rescue kits containing naloxone (an overdose-reversing nasal spray).
- Held back-to-school COVID-19 testing events, distributed early childhood health education and built community gardens in underserved communities.
- Participated in a community mental health crisis intervention system to assess, stabilize and link people in crisis to follow-up care and services.
- Supported elementary schools as part of a dental hygiene program that sends out staff and volunteers to provide free teeth cleanings to students.
Learn More and Apply
If you want to start your career and make a difference in public health, consider member benefits such as:
- Education awards to apply to higher education or student loan forgiveness
- Student loan deferment and forbearance
- Living allowance
- Hands-on experience
- Training from experts
Visit AmeriCorps.gov/PublicHealth for a list of opportunities to serve and contact your desired opportunity by phone or email to learn more and apply. You can also subscribe to the newsletter to learn more about the initiative.
SOURCE:
AmeriCorps
