Trident United Way to Host Online Forum Discussing Disparities in Minorities Getting COVID-19 Vaccinations

On Thursday, February 18th from noon to 1 pm, Trident United Way will lead a conversation on race and health equity in an online forum designed to dispel myths and raise awareness of how vital it is for everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as they become eligible.

Presenters will give detailed data showing FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for all racial groups. Additional topics will include:

• How health inequalities have impacted communities of color, leading to mistrust. Mistrust is not about past issues in healthcare; it’s a present-day problem.
• Addressing vaccine hesitancy in Black and other communities with serious health disparities.
• Vaccine hesitancy can be changed with engagement, information and understanding.

The event will feature these experts:

• Emma Frazier, Ph.D. – Epidemiologist, SC DHEC
• Ashley Green – Data Analyst, SC DHEC
• Anton Gunn – President & CEO, 937 Strategy Group

Click this link for access to the event on February 18th at noon.

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll of adults shows clear racial differences when asked if they will “wait and see” if a COVID-19 vaccine works before taking it:

• 43% Black, 37% Hispanic, 26% White

The forum will urge everyone, especially people of color, to realize the danger of not getting a vaccine. A recent New York Times profile highlights reluctancy in the Black community:

• Philadelphia – 44% Black population, 12% vaccine recipients
• New York City – 24% Black population, 11% vaccine recipients
• Miami-Dade County – 17% Black population, 7% vaccine recipients

The forum is the first of a Healthy Tri-County three-part series scheduled for 2021, which looks at how health and race equity issues are closely linked.

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