The COVID-19 Vaccine and the Black Community: Addressing the Justified Questions

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Cato T Laurencin, University of Connecticut Health Center; Hannah Valantine, The National Academies Roundtable for Black Men and Black Women in Science; Clyde Yancy, The National Academies Roundtable for Black Men and Black Women in Science; Camara Jones, Emory University; Cedric Bright, The National Academies Roundtable for Black Men and Black Women in Science
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-06-18
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01082-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 809
• End Page: 820
• Grant/Funding Information: This work received financial support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH BUILD (RL5GM118969).
• Keywords: Community; Black; Hesitancy; Vaccine; Roundtable; Covid-19
• Research Categories: Engineering, Materials Science; Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Established in 2019, the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in STEM convenes a broad array of stakeholders that focus on the barriers and opportunities encountered by Black men and Black women as they navigate the pathways from K-12 and postsecondary education to careers in science, engineering, and medicine. Through meetings, public workshops, and publications, the Roundtable advances discussions that raise awareness and/or highlight promising practices for increasing the representation, retention, and inclusiveness of Black men and Black women in STEM. In keeping with the charge of the Roundtable, Roundtable leadership and leaders of the COVID-19 action group conducted an informational video in January 2021 to provide an in-depth discussion around common, justified questions in the Black community pertaining to the COVID-19 vaccine. The manuscript addresses selected questions and answers relating to the different types of COVID-19 vaccines and their development, administration, and effectiveness. Discussion focuses on addressing vaccine misconceptions, misinformation, mistrust, and hesitancy; challenges in prioritizing vaccinations in diverse populations and communities; dealing with racism in medicine and public health; optimizing communication and health education; and offering practical strategies and recommendations for improving vaccine acceptance by clinicians, health care workers, and the Black community. This manuscript summarizes the content in the YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdEC9c48A_k).