The White House has announced how it intends to address vaccine hesitancy as Covid-19 vaccination rollouts continue, and it included utilising $3bn in funding towards inoculation messaging that would increase public confidence.

"Building vaccine confidence and increasing access to vaccination is central to our efforts," said Jeffrey Zients, the White House Covid-19 response coordinator, during a Covid-19 press briefing on Wednesday.

The $3bn in funding was an investment going directly to states that would assist them in providing messaging to residents about the safety of the vaccines. Mr ZIents said the priority was to push "fact-based messaging and resources into the hands of trusted, local messengers."

Previously the White House has highlighted how local faith and community leaders could make the most impact in increasing confidence for the vaccines within specific communities. These leaders would likely be the focus to relay vaccine messaging.

This investment comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended for states to pause administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six people developed severe blood clots.

Critics have warned that the vaccine pause could impact hesitancy among those who are unvaccinated and encourage them not to get a Covid-19 vaccine.

But Mr Zients again repeated on Wednesday that the public could view the safety steps the FDA was taking towards the vaccine as a positive, therefore increasing their confidence in the vaccines available.

"Yesterday's action should give the American people confidence in the FDA and CDC, the thoroughness of the review process, and their commitment to transparency and protection of public health. We believe that by empowering Americans with data and facts, we will strengthen the public's trust in government, and increase their confidence in the vaccine," Mr Zients said.

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