Friday on Political Rewind: The COVID-19 pandemic enters a new stage as vaccinations become increasingly available. But even as more people become fully vaccinated, stubborn obstacles remain. How should we reach out to communities hesistant or unable to receive the vaccines? And how quickly should our institutions, places of work and schools reopen?

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president of the Morehouse School of Medicine, joined our panel. Rice and her colleagues have been on the frontlines of a campaign encouraging African Americans communities to embrace the vaccine. Polls now show many Black communities are no longer skeptical about the shots. Instead, a significant percentage of white men, divided along political believes, now resist vaccination.

We asked our experts about Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to drop pandemic restrictions put in place last year to stop the spread of the virus. The move reflects growing census the end of the pandemic is approaching. But how close are we to returning to "normal life?"

Panelists:

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice — President and Dean, Morehouse College School of Medicine

Dr. Joshua Weitz — Professor, Georgia Tech and Head of the Weitz Group

Patricia Murphy — Political Reporter and Columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution