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The state senator who's had death threats for promoting vaccines

The Pfizer vaccine against Covid-19 could be rolled out in the US from as early as next week, after it was approved by a key advisory body to the Federal Drug Agency. And it is much needed - on Wednesday alone, 3,000 people died in America from coronavirus.

But there's also concern about how many Americans will actually agree to get vaccinated. A recent Gallup poll found that 58% were willing to get the jab, up from a low of 50% in September.

Senator Richard Pan has made it his mission to tighten immunisation laws in his state of California. Since 2015 he's had death threats for promoting legislation preventing parents from opting out of vaccine programmes.

"If you don't have science on your side then you resort to things like death threats, incitements to violence and sometimes even actual assault."

(Photo: Senator Richard Pan (centre) Courtesy: Senator Richard Pan's office

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