NEWS BRIEFS: Study highlights the language of vaccination

Staff reports  |  A national study highlights tested ways to communicate effectively with groups of Americans who tend to be more hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — younger women, younger African Americans, rural residents and younger Republicans.  Read full story. 

“The divides along racial, urban-rural, political and generational lines are significant when it comes to vaccine acceptance, but we’ve learned that there are certain words and phrases that will work for all audiences,” said pollster Frank Luntz about his study for the de Beaumont Foundation. In the 1990s, Luntz served as a pollster for House Speaker Newt Gingrich to rebrand Republicans via messaging.  His work was used with Gingrich’s Contract with America and, many have observed, helped to increase polarization in American politics.

Luntz’s new work with the foundation illustrates how the use of language can help improve vaccine acceptance.  For example, leaders should talk about the benefits of taking the vaccine, versus the consequences.  Or how getting the vaccine keeps people safe, versus “getting the vaccine is the right thing to do.”  It also suggests talking about “America’s leading experts” as opposed to “the world’s leading experts.”

In other recent news:

Masks, masks, masks.  Lots of news last week about mask mandates.  A Tuesday afternoon opinion published by S.C. Supreme Court unanimously rejected interpretations by state Attorney General Alan Wilson that a state budget proviso would prohibit state colleges from enacting mask mandates. Meanwhile, lawmakers are facing increasing pressure  to repeal a ban on the wearing of masks in public schools. School districts and counties have defied the ban as cases of COVID-19 have soared. And S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson sued the state’s capital city Thursday over a school mask mandate that officials allege violates state law. 

COVID-19 cases rise.  South Carolina health officials reported 24,982 total cases of COVID-19, with 18,954 confirmed, between Aug. 14 and Aug. 20. A total of 179 new deaths, with 152 confirmed, were reported over the week. The rate of positive reported tests, as of Aug. 20, was 14.5 percent.

Sanford, Summey trade barbs.  In a new memoir, former Congressman Mark Sanford described how past Charleston County Council chairman Elliott Summey nabbed a $300,000-per-year job as director of Charleston International Airport as a “coup d’etat.” Summey dismissed the criticism by telling the Charleston City Paper that Sanford was an “unelectable, defeated former politician who has no future … No one really cares what he says.”  The book goes on sale Tuesday.

Sellers to have new children’s book.  Bakari Sellers, the former state House Representative who has become a fixture on cable TV news announced today he’ll release a new children’s book next year, entitled, Who Are Your People?  The book will be released in January.

Ports Authority sets container volume record. The S.C. Ports Authority reported another record-setting month with the highest July container volumes in history.