black community and a vaccine

Waiting to hear back.

As trucks start to roll out across the country with pfizer's coronavirus vaccine -- we know some in the community say they're still nervous about taking the vaccine once it becomes availble.

Waay-31s alexis scott spoke with some leaders in the black community about what they're hearing and why some people may be hesistant.

Alexis?

The alabama department of public health says the vaccine is being delivered directly to hospitals here in alabama.

In the black community... i was told there are still some problems with getting them on board to taking the shots.

I think the first thing we need to do is to be honest about how medical communities and healthcare has marginalized historically oppressed communities.

Reverend dexter strong believes this is the main reason black and brown communities do not want to take the coronavirus vaccine right now... especially with one of the biggest concerns stemming from here in alabama.

The tuskegee syphilis study stands out as the paradigm shift where people of color were treated in an inappropriate way when there was known therapy for syphilis.

In alabama -- black residents are still dying from covid-19 at a disproportionat e rate -- which concerns many black alabamians.

And while some are also concerned with how quickly the vaccine was developed -- dr. selwyn vickers with the uab school of medicine says that was possible thanks to advancements in vaccine development.

The timing to get this to people was quick, but it was not due to shortcuts but both strong and angela curry -- a representative of united women of color... say there may be a way to get black folks on board.

That would be to make any and all information on the vaccine... more readily available.

There should be psas, there should be a full-fledge media campaign, but then also our administration.

We just had a contentious election that we still hear about all day long and i think the focus needs to be shifted from that to the public health.

Dr. vickers says both the pfizer and moderna vaccines are effective for black and brown communities.

He assures that when they are widely available to you... they will be safe to take.

Reporting live outside of huntsville hospital, alexis scott, waay