The Gateway Medical Society works with the Black Neighborhood to Construct Belief in Vaccines – CBS Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – With coronavirus vaccines on the way and distribution plans ready, the challenge remaining is how to convince people to get the vaccine.
Some communities are more reluctant to receive the vaccine than others because of historical disadvantages with health care providers.
Of the 60 percent of US adults planning a coronavirus vaccine, research shows that members of the black community are the least likely to roll up their sleeves.
On a call Tuesday with Black Community leaders, Dr. Anthony Fauci colored people to put the skepticism aside.
“My African American brothers and sisters, the vaccine you will be taking was developed by an African American woman,” said Fauci.
According to a study by Pew Research, 42 percent of black adults said they were taking a coronavirus vaccine, compared with 63 percent of Hispanic adults and 61 percent of white adults.
“There are historical connections with things that happened in the past like the Tuskegee experiments and things like that with people of color that made African Americans especially skeptical,” said Dr. Lisa Issac, the president of the Gateway Medical Society.
CDC data shows that blacks are four times more likely to be hospitalized and three times more likely to die from the coronavirus. Dr. Issac said this could be due to underlying health conditions and other factors.
“Furthermore, the inequality is that they get the health care they need when they need it,” said Dr. Issac.
These are some of the reasons this doctor is promoting the coronavirus vaccine.
“I think we know the problems with COVID-19. We know how this affects our communities. And I don’t think we can wait. I will want the vaccine myself as soon as it is available, ”said Dr. Issac.
The next dilemma is ensuring that mostly black neighborhoods have access to these vaccines, which Dr. Issac is hopeful.
“I hope places like state-qualified health centers and other places can be considered to get a stock of these vaccines so they can be brought into the community,” said Dr. Issac.
Through the Gateway Medical Society, Dr. Issac also made it a mission to associate black people with flu vaccines, especially now that the coronavirus and flu could have an unthinkable impact.
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