Kim Schrier: “Researchers across the globe are working on vaccines to protect us from COVID-19, and once rigorous studies are…”

“Researchers across the globe are working on vaccines to protect us from COVID-19, and once rigorous studies are complete, we will be able to roll this out to the public and provide protection from this dreadful disease. But we need to be doing work now to build public trust and vaccine safety and understand concerns within specific communities. In order to do that, we need data on vaccine confidence and access broken down by race, ethnicity, geography, and age. Just this week, we have seen a prominent example of bad actors who willfully undermine science, peddle conspiracy theories, and intentionally spread misinformation. This won't be the last time. It is going to be hard to counter sophisticated efforts to sow doubt in vaccine evidence, efficacy, and safety, and we must reckon with this country's legacy of unconscionable treatment of people of color. My amendment ensures that we will get reliable information to the American people because a safe and effective vaccine is only helpful if people are confident in it and willing to take it.”