According to the state department of health only a quarter of those who have received at least one dose of their COVID vaccine, so far are Black. Director of Community Partnerships and Health Equity at LDH, Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson said they are working to counter the hesitancy among blacks to be vaccinated.
“To get African-Americans vaccinated and also increase their awareness about vaccinations so that we can improve these numbers,” said Benjamin-Robinson.
Benjamin-Robinson said they are holding vaccine events in locations accessible to the Black community.
“We are also wanting to make certain that we are working with community partners to ensure that we are doing our due diligence to create those community events that are culturally specific and relevant to African-Americans,” said Benjamin-Robinson.
Benjamin-Robinson said a survey over the summer indicated that only 49-percent of Blacks in the state planned to get vaccinated. To counter hesitancy among Blacks they are working to establish trust in the community and offer an opportunity for a conversation with Blacks who doubt the vaccine.
“And not disregard when individuals inside the community say, ‘I don’t trust the vaccine, I don’t trust the process,’ for whatever reason and that we’re listening to that and not downplaying that,” said Benjamin-Robinson.
Benjamin-Robinson said Louisiana is not alone, other states are showing similar disparities among Blacks and vaccinations.
Comments