Interviews with hundreds of people who frequent dockside bars, restaurants, and resorts in this region, which is famously featured on the Netflix dark drama Ozark revealed a strong opposition to the vaccine campaign as well as a profound disbelief about the news surrounding the Delta variant. It borders on belligerence. They say that no promise, not even a $1million check or a plea from someone close, would convince them to get vaccinated.Some of the few who admitted getting vaccinated said they were embarrassed by their family members or friends.Brittany Hanlon (a woman who has been battling cancer) said that she wore a mask while shopping at Wal-Mart. As she was trying to shop, two women shouted at her: "Take off your mask!" Hanlon said that the mask made them feel uncomfortable. I don't understand what they meant. Hanlon said that she doesn't mean anything or act inappropriately. She was simply wearing a black mask to interact with 600-700 people per week at the Ha Ha Tonka State Park Visitors Center in the Lake of the Ozarks. She is often met with sneers, and asked to take off the mask.These moments are a clear indication of how social pressures can sometimes pull people away form public safety measuresunderscore what obstacles the Biden administration faces now as it fights a resurgence.President Obama has tried to keep his pandemic management as a high-ranking political achievement. These achievements are now at greater risk. Despite the large-scale push at the local level and evidence that Covid-infected people are the majority of those who die or are hospitalized, the vaccination rate is still very low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, single shot vaccinations for adults were given in three counties of the Lake of the Ozarks region: Camden, Miller, and Morganstood at 46%, 35%, and 42% respectively. Experts say it is still far below the 70% goal for adults to attain herd immunity.
