>> Renee: EVEN AS MORE AND MORE
KENTUCKIANS GET VACCINATED
AGAINST COVID-19, THERE IS STILL
SOME HESITANCY.
WE TALK WITH THOSE ON THE FRONT
LINES AND ENCOURAGING AND/OR
ADMINISTERING VACCINES,
ESPECIALLY IN THE THE HISPANIC
AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
CONNECTIONS TODAY.
I'M RENEE SHAW.
AS OF MID APRIL, ABOUT 50% OF
KENTUCKY KENTUCKY ADULTS HAD
RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF
THE COVID-19 VACCINE.
VACCINATION RATES THOUGH FOR THE
STATE'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAVE
REMAINED LOW.
MARCH DATA FROM THE LEXINGTON
HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT
LESS THAN 3% OF LEXINGTON'S
HISPANICS HAD BEEN VACCINATED.
THE LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TEAMED UP
WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS
AND MEDIA OUTLETS TO FIGHT
DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE
IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
WE SPOKE TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY
LEADERS WHO ARE WORKING DIRECTLY
WITH NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING
COMMUNITIES ABOUT SOME OF THE
ROOT FACTORS BEHIND VACCINE
HESITANCY IN LEXINGTON'S
HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
GABRIELLA MARTINEZ TELLS US
MORE.
>> WE ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE
BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS THAT
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH GOING AGAINST
FACEBOOK RIGHT NOW.
>> HEALTH EDUCATOR AT THE
LEXINGTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS
BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN POINT
PEOPLE FOR VACCINE INFORMATION
FOR LEXINGTON'S HISPANIC
COMMUNITY.
>> PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LOT OF
THEIR INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
DOCTORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES,
EXPERTS SAYING THINGS THAT GO
AGAINST WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH HERE AND THEN ONE
THING PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ONLY IN
SPANISH THROUGH THEIR PHONES IS
WHERE THEY GET MOST OF THEIR
INFORMATION.
AND ONE OF THE BATTLES WE ARE
HAVING TO FIGHT IS LIKE THEY SEE
THIS VIDEOS AND INFORMATION AND
THEN SOMETIMES THEY HAVE AN
APPOINTMENT TO GET THEIR VACCINE
AND THEY CANCEL IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, WE HAVE
MADE SURE TO TRANSLATE ALL OUR
INFORMATION IN SPANISH WHETHER
IT'S OUR WEBSITE OR FLYERS SINCE
THE BEGINNING.
WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD
BILINGUAL STAFF WORKING IN
CONTACT TRACING, IN LOGISTICS TO
DO THE PART.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HISPANICS THAT
ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO YOUR
SERVICE INDUSTRY OR FACTORIES OR
GROCERIES OR THE FOOD CHAIN AND,
YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS REALLY AFFECTING OUR
HISPANIC COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO GO TO WORK.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO
STAY HOME AND TELEWORK AND
THAT'S WHY WE SAW SUCH A BIG
INCREASE OR DISPARITY IN THE
CASES OF HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, 6
TO 7% OF THE POPULATION OF
LEXINGTON BUT 28% OF ALL THE
CASES.
THAT WAS BECAUSE THE TYPE OF JOB
THAT THEY HAD.
>> DEE ANA IS ONE OF THE
BILINGUAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
VOLUNTEERS HELPING VACCINATE
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
>> I STARTED VOLUME VOLUNTEERING
BECAUSE WHEN THE GOVERNOR PASSED
THE EMERGENCY ALERT FOR
EVERYBODY TO, IN THE HEALTHCARE
COMMUNITY TO HELP OUT, I'M A
DENTAL HYGIENIST, SO THE
KENTUCKY BOARD OF DENTISTRY
EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE
FOR THE HIGH GENERAL--
HYGIENISTS WHO CAN APPLIANCE
THESIA TO APPLY TO VOLUNTEER.
I STARTED NOTICING THE BIG HELP
THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY NEEDED.
WE MOVED NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH
MY FAMILY FROM GAINESVILLE,
FLORIDA.
I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG THE
HISPANIC COMMUNITY WAS HERE IT
WAS AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE
COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.
I WAS TOM CLINICIANS WHO COULD
SPEAK SPANISH.
THEY HELPED WITH SOME
INTERPRETERS BUT I'M GLAD I'M
ABLE TO HELP MORE AND EASE THE
MISCONCEPTIONS AND THE FEARS
THAT SOME HISPANICS HAVE TOWARDS
THE VACCINATION AND BE ABLE TO
TELL THEM I GOT THE VACCINE, I'M
ABLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
WE ARE IN A SAFE PLACE AND JUST
PRED THE WORD.
WE HAVE A SIMPLE RULE.
WE DON'T ASK ABOUT STATUS OR IF
YOU ARE HERE LEGALLY OR NOT.
ALL WE HAVE TOLD THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY TOM THING WE NEED TO
VERIFY IS THAT YOU LIVE IN
FAYETTE COUNTY OW OR THAT YOU
WORK IN FAYETTE COUNTY.
OTHER THAN THAT WE ARE NOT
ASKING FOR ANYBODY'S SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER.
WE DO THEM IF THEY HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE BUT IF THEY DON'T,
THAT'S OKAY AND WE HAVE BEEN
DISSEMINATING THAT ALMOST A
MONTH AGO BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS, I DID AN
INVIEW AND THAT WAS THE FIRST
QUESTION THAT I GOT.
DO I NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED TO
GET THE VACCINE A RESEARCH
PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY'S COLLEGE OF NURSING
RECRUITS COMMUNITY HEALTH
WORKERS KNOWN IN SPANISH AND
TRAINS TO HELP IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LESS
ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.
THE RECENT PROGRAM ORIGINALLY
CREATED TO REDUCE HEART DISEASE
AND DIABETES RISK HAS BECOME A
LIFELINE FOR NON-ENGLISH
SPEAKING COMMUNITIES DURING THE
PANDEMIC.
MARTIN SAYS THAT LANGUAGE
BARRIERS AND FEAR ABOUT
DISCLOSING IMMIGRATION STATUS
ARE HURDLES IN THE VEEJ
REGISTRATION PROCESS.
>> FILLING OUT THE FORMS LIKE I
SAID BEFORE, IS ALSO A BARRIER
IT TELLS YOU IN SPANISH TO GO
HERE THEN WHEN YOU GO THERE THEN
THERE IS OTHER FORMS AND THEN
THERE ARE QUESTIONS ASKED, YOU
KNOW LIKE THEY SAY PUT YOUR
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PEOPLE GO
AHEAD AND WHEN THEY SEE THAT, IF
WE SEE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF
SOME PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THEY GO
AHEAD AND JUST GET OUT.
THEY DON'T FINISH FILLING OUT.
>> SHE SERVED WHEN SHE LIVED IN
PERU IS CONTINUING HER WORK IN
LEXINGTON AS A PART-TIME
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER THROUGH
THE U.K. PROGRAM.
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
>> IF HAVE YOU HISPANIC FRIENDS
THAT YOU KNOW ARE AFRAID TO COME
FORWARD AND GET THE VACCINE,
TELL THEM, LISTEN, WE ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ASKING FOR ANY TYPE
OF STATUS.
IT'S FREE FOR EVERYONE IT IS NOT
HARMFUL.
BUT THERE ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS.
BUT I GOT VACCINATED OVER A
MONTH AGO AND I WAS FINE THE
WHOLE TIME.
BUT JUST TALK TO THEM AND
ENCOURAGE THEY WILL AND IF YOU
CAN HELP THEM OUT IN THE
REGISTRATION PROCESS BECAUSE
THEY MIGHT NOT BE GOOD IN
ENGLISH, WE HAVE IT IN SPANISH.
IF THEY'RE NOT GOOD WITH THE
INTERNET, THEY CAN CALL OUR HOT
LINE 859-899 HF 2222.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK
SPANISH THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH
THE PROCESS.
>> TO GIVE US SOME GREATER
PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW TO GET
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
PARTICULARLY THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY OUT AND VACCINATED, WE
ARE JOINED BY VICTOR PALOMINO
WITH RADIO LEX AND HE DOES A LOT
OF THE STATIONS SPANISH LANGUAGE
PROGRAMMING AND JOINS US NOW TO
TALK ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING TO
GET THE WORD OUT AND TO GET
PEOPLE VACCINATED HOW ARE YOU
DOING, VICTOR.
>> DOING WELL, RENEE, THANKS FOR
HAVING ME.
>> Renee: WE WERE TALKING BEFORE
WE STARTED RECORDING, WE BOTH
HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND GOT OUR
SECOND SHOTS.
WE BOTH HAD MODERNA.
I ASKED HOW YOU WERE DOING.
YOU DON'T HAVE A THIRD ARM ORING
IN LIKE THAT.
>> IT IS A GOOD FEELING KNOWING
THAT I HAVE THE VACCINE AND CAN
I MAKE AN EXAMPLE TO OUR
COMMUNITY.
TOM THING WAS LIKE ONE DAY WHERE
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BILLS AND
FELT A LITTLE SICK BUT IT WAS A
DAY THAT I NEEDED TO REST AND
AFTER THAT, I GOT MY ENERGY TACK
AND BACK TO WORK AND DOING WHAT
WE DO.
>> Renee: ISN'T IT LIKE A
RELIEF.
YOU FEEL EMOTIONAL, OKAY, I'M
NOTE JUST PROTECTING MYSELF, I'M
PROTECTING MY COMMUNITY, RIGHT?
>> AND OPENING THE DOOR FOR
PEOPLE THAT MAYBE HAVE QUESTIONS
OR MAYBE THAT ARE AAFRAID TO
TAKE THE VACCINE THAT I TELL
THEM MY EXPERIENCES I TOOK THE
FIRST SHOT, THIS HAPPENED I'M
TAKING THE SECOND SHOT IT'S
SOMETHING AS PART OF THE
COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO DO IT
SOMETIMES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES
AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE A LITTLE BIT ON THE MARGINS
OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ON THE
MARGINS OF WHEN THINGS HAPPENED
SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOW UP AND SAY WE ARE PART OF
THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE MAKING
OUR PART.
>> Renee: ONE OF THE THINGS WE
HEARD IN THE PIECE THAT PRECEDED
YOU IS THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE
GETTING SO MUCH OF THE
INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA,
WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY
VERIFIABLE TRUTH, RIGHT?
AND SO, BECAUSE YOU ARE
LISTENING AND WATCHING AND
READING EVERYTHING PEOPLE ARE
SAYING AND MAY NOT BE RELYING ON
THE TRUE SCIENCE.
DO YOU RUN ACROSS THAT, THAT
PEOPLE ARE REALLY MAYBE GETTING
THE INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA RATHER THAN THROUGH
RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION.
>> THAT HAPPENS A LOT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SPEAK A
LANGUAGE DIFFERENT THAN ENGLISH,
YOU WANT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION
IN YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE.
THAT'S THE ONE ARE MORE
COMFORTABLE.
YOU THINK AND DREAM IN THAT
LANGUAGE SO WHEN THINGS LIKE
THIS HAPPEN, YOU FEEL MORE
COMFORTABLE GOING TO YOUR SOCIAL
MEDIA FRIENDS OR START HEARING
THINGS LIKE YOU SAY, NOT
OFFICIAL AND IT CAN TAKE THEM IN
TOO MANY DIRECTIONS.
NOT ONLY RADIO LEX BUT OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING
TOGETHER TO TRY TO SEND A
MESSAGE FROM A LOCAL POINT OF
VIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS
IS PEOPLE KNOW MORE WHAT IS
HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES
OR IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY
COME FROM THAN WHAT IS REALLY
HAPPENING HERE SO IT'S BEEN A
CHALLENGE ALL THESE PANDEMIC TO
GET THAT INFORMATION TO
EVERYBODY.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT WE HAVE
A VERY DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH
MOMENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN,
SOMETIMES WE FORGET MOST OF THE
INFORMATION IS DELIVERED IN
ENGLISH.
WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE MORE
EFFORT THAN TO REACH OUT AND GET
THE INFORMATION DELIVERED TO
EVERYBODY ELSE THAT SPEAKS OUR
LANGUAGE.
>> Renee: AND TO THE QUESTION
ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, AT THE
TIME WE RECORDED THIS INTERVIEW
ON THE HEELS OF THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON PAUSE BY THE IF EFFORT
TO JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENS, TO LEARN ABOUT THE SIX
CASES OF SEVERE BLOOD CLOTS, ONE
THAT LED TO DEATH, BEFORE THEY
RESUME.
DO YOU FIND THAT'S GOING TO BE A
FURTHER BARRIER BECAUSE IF THEY
WERE HESITANT AND ON THE FENCE,
JUS LIKE THAT CAN BE PRETTY
JARRING.
>> YES, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TRYING TO
GET A PANEL OF PEOPLE HERE FROM
THE COMMUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS
GOING ON, WHAT, WHY THE VACCINES
ARE BEING STOPPED WHAT ARE THE
SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
EXPLAINING EVERYTHING VERY
DETAILS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY
WITH THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL
MEDIA NEWS THAT IS NOT REAL GETS
SPREAD EASIER AND FASTER AND
PEOPLE LIKE TO CLICK THAT AND
THE ALGORITHMS.
SO IT'S HARD TO REACH OUT AND
IF THEY WERE ALREADY AFRAID OF
GETTING THE VACCINE FOR WHATEVER
REASON, NOW THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AND EVEN
MORE AFRAID OF GETTING THE
VACCINE SO IT'S THE ONLY WAY
THAT WE CAN FIGHT THAT IS THE
SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITIES,
LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAMILIAR FACES
THAT THEY KNOW AND SHOWING THEM,
GETTING THE VACCINE OR SHOWING
GO WITH THEM TO PUBLIC AREA LIKE
IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, WORD
OF MOUTH IS VERY BIG.
SOMETIMES YOU TRUST YOUR
NEIGHBOR OR FRIENDS OR FAMILY
ARE SAWING SO IF WE CAN GET ONE
PERSON FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT
IS TRUSTED BY THE COMMUNITY TO
DELIVER THAT INFORMATION, THAT'S
GOING TO HELP US TO GET OVER ALL
THE FALSE INFORMATION ONLINE.
>> Renee: HAVING THE AMBASSADORS
TO CARRY THE MESSAGE SO WHAT IS
THE MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT TO
SEND TO PERHAPS NOT THE PRIMARY
NATIVE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE
VACCINE AND IF THEY'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT IT AND IF THEY'RE
CONCERNED IF THEY'RE NOT
DOCUMENTED WE HEARD THAT DOESN'T
MATTER.
NOBODY IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR
YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
>> THAT'S I A BIG POINT.
IF YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED, YOU TRY
TO BE UNDER THE RADAR THE
MESSAGE I HAVE FOR THEM IS DON'T
BE AFRAID.
ASK QUESTIONS, GO TO THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, GLOBAL LEX HAVE A
LOT OF INFORMATION THERE ARE
AGENCIES HELPING IN YOUR
LANGUAGE TO ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK AND IF
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
THE VACCINE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS
TELL YOUR FAMILY AND NETWORK WE
ARE ALL PART OF KENTUCKY IT IS A
BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH DIVERSITY
AND WE NEED TO SHOW THE REST OF
THE COMMUNITY THAT WE BELONG, WE
ARE PART OF THIS AND WE ARE
GOING TO COME OUT TOGETHER AS A
UNIT.
>> Renee: RIFN TO RADIO LEX
BECAUSE YOU'LL GIVE THEM THE
INFORMATION THEY NEED AND TELL
THEM WHERE TO GO.
>> LISTEN TO RADIO LEX.
WE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY RADIO.
WE WANT TO BE THE VOICE OF
LEXINGTON AND WE HAVE
INFORMATION IN MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES.
SO IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE
GOVERNOR'S UPDATES, WE DO THAT
IN AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES AND THE SPANISH
STATION 98.AT NOON YOU CAN HEAR
A SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S
BRIEFINGS EVERY DAY AT NOON.
>> Renee: THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> AND GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
>> Renee: I HAVE BEEN TO THE
WEBSITE AND ALL THE
INFORMATIONINGS THERE.
>> YOU CAN SELECT THE LANGUAGE
AND EVERYTHING.
TRY TO BE DIVERSE.
YOU CANNOT THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY
IN JUST ONE LANGUAGE.
>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU
ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE
IN LEXINGTON AND EVEN I KNOW IT
REACHES BEYOND SO THANK YOU FOR
ALL GREAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> STAY WITH US AS WE TALK MORE
ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY,
PARTICULARLY THOUGH IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
VIVIAN LASLEY-BIBBS CHAIRS THE
FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY
JOINS US NEXT.
JOINING US NOW IS VIVIAN
LASLEY-BIBBS.
SHE HAS BEEN ON THIS PROGRAM
SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.
SHE IS A HEALTH EQUITY CHAMPION,
REALLY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY
TRYING TO HELP BRIDGE THE
DISPARATE FACTS AND FIGURES WE
HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND COVID
IS NO EXCEPTION.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT HOW
GETTING MORE OF THE HISPANIC
COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND GETTING
THEIR VACCINATIONS AND WHAT THE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING.
BUT AS CHAIR OF THE FOUNDATION
FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY BOARD, HAVE
YOU SEVERAL HATS BUT THIS IS THE
ONE THAT YOU ARE USING TODAY.
YOU ARE REALLY ACTIVE IN HELPING
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HEALTH
DISPARITY WHICH YOU HAVE DONE
FOR A LONG TIME BUT AS IT
RELATES TO COVID.
WHY IS IT EXAS EXACERBATED WITH
R OR IS COVID JUST REVEALING IT.
>> YOU YOU RIP THE BAND-AID OFF
AND SAY I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT
WAS UNDER THERE AND WHAT HAD
BEEN FESTERING AND I LIKE TO
DESCRIBE IT AS AN ONION WE
STARTED PEELING BACK THE LAYIERS
AND FOUND OUT THAT COVID SHOWED
NOT ONLY ARE WE HAVING THE
HEALTH DISPARITIES BUT WITH
COVID ON TOP OF THAT AND THE
IMPLICATIONS THAT COVID IMPOSED
ON US STAYING AT HOME, THE
CHILDREN STAYING AT HOME, US NOT
WORKING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS
WERE FAMILY FIED IN COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, RIGHT.
SO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE
SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL
BARRIERS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
THERE WERE EXACERBATED BY COVID
I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT THE
FOUNDATION WITH HEALTH EQUITY AS
PART OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT,
WE'VE REALLY BEEN VIGILANT ABOUT
FINDING OUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS
SOME OF THE CONSCIOUS IN OUR
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE
GOOD NEWS IS AS THE CASES HAVE
STARTED TO DECLINE, THE
DISPARITY BETWEEN THE CASES AND
THE REPRESENTATION OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE
COMMUNITY ARE ALMOST ALIGNED.
THAT WE ARE STARTING TO MAKE
MORE SENSE WHEN IT COMES TO
THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SHOW.
WHAT IS THE HESITANCY OF
VACCINATIONS IN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY?
IS THAT STILL ABISSUE AT THAT
POINT.
>> IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE
EARLY ON BUT AS MORE
CONVERSATIONS ARE HELD, MORE
INFORMATION FACTUAL INFORMATION
TO GET OUT, THE MYTHS AND AND
MISCONCEPTIONS BEING DEBUNKED,
THE VACCINE HESITANCY IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TO ME WAS
NEVER THE DRIVER.
TO ME IT WAS THE SYSTEMIC
THINGS, THE RACISM OF THE
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, ACCESS TO THE
VIRUS ITSELF TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES TO GET TO A SITE TO GET
THE VACCINE OR TO GET TESTED.
>> Renee: OR EVEN TO SIGN UP.
>> THERE YOU GO.
WE HAVE SOME LITERACY ISSUES
THERE RELATING TO COMPUTER
ACCESS, USE, BROOND AND
INTERNET.
I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT CHEAP
AND NOT EVERY HOME HAS THAT AND
WE SEEM TO THINK THAT EVERYBODY
HAS A CELL PHONE.
EVERYBODY HAS A COMPUTER
EVERYBODY HAS AN iPAD.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE IN
SOME OF OUR REALLY IMPOVERISHED
COMMUNITIES.
ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION WERE
SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT WAS
BEING HIDDEN UNDER THE VACCINE
HESITANCY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE OTHER ISSUES IF YOU SAY
VACCINE HESITANCY.
>> Renee: THAT IT IS JUST ALMOST
LIKE AN EXCUSE.
OR A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION OR YOU
KNOW, THE HISTORY THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE HAD WITH
THE TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT.
WE HER ABOUT THAT AND A LOT OF
THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS CHURCH
HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE AND INVOLVED
FROM TESTING TO VACCINATION MY
OWN CHURCH, WHICH I'M A MEMBER
OF THERE WAS A CLINIC HELD WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.
WE AWE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND DO
YOU THINK THAT HELPED WHEN YOU
HAD LOCAL MINISTERS AND CLERGY
AND EVEN PEW BUDDIES, IF PEOPLE
WHO WERE GOING TO CHURCH GETTING
THEIR VACCINATIONS.
>> WHO DO WE LOOK TO FOR OUR
ADVICE AND INFORMATION BECAUSE
WE KNOW IF THE PASTOR SAYS IT,
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
IT'S DONE, RIGHT.
>>
>> Renee: RIGHT.
>> IT WAS BENEFICIAL, IT WAS
HELPFUL.
THE THING I'M GLAD TO SEE IS
THAT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE RELY ON THE
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY TO DO
EVERYTHING FOR COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR AND I'M GLAD THAT WAS JUST
ONE PIECE.
NOW WE HAVE OTHER FOLKS STEPPING
UP TO THE PLACE WE HAVE THE
URBAN LEAGUE AND NAACP.
SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES,
WE'VE GOT THE LINKS, WE'VE GOT
OTHER PEOPLE LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO
TO HELP, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE
INVOLVED?
THAT'S WHAT I'M GLAD TO SEE
BECAUSE EARLY ON WHEN I STARTED
TALKING ABOUT HEALTH
DISPARITIES, EVERYBODY WENT TO
THE CHURCH.
IF WE JUST GET THE FAITH-BASED
COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE
DISPARITIES THEY'LL ADDRESS
THOSE AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO
BE GOOD.
>> Renee: I REMEMBER THAT.
>> EVERYBODY WENT TO THE
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY.
LET'S GO TO THE BLACK CHURCH,
LET'S GO TO THE BROWN CHURCHES.
>> Renee: AND THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO TO THOSE
CHURCH.
YOU ARE LEAVING OUT A BIG
PORTION OF THE POPULATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Renee: SO WITH ALL THE NEWS
AT THE TIME WE RECORD RECORDED
THIS, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE
JOHNSON & JOHNSON ISSUE WHERE
THEY HAD PULLED THAT, PUT A
PAUSE ON IT TEMPORARILY.
DO YOU THINK THAT THAT WILL
WORSEN, WE'LL CALL IT VACCINE
HESITANCY FOR PEOPLE?
WHO ARE DO YOU THINK THAT THERE
ARE OTHER CHOICES, TWO OTHER
CHOICES.
>> EXACTLY.
I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE OTHER
CHOICES.
THE ONE THING I REALLY WANTED,
THAT PEOPLE ASKED ME, TO
REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS A VERY
RARE EVENT.
THE CHANCES OF SIX PEOPLE OUT OF
SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE ONE DEATH,
TO ME YOU HAVE MORE SIDE EFFECTS
BAKING A PRECIPITATION THAT YOUR
DOCTOR WOULD GIVE YOU FOR
SOMETHING LIKE DIABETES OR, YOU
KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BUT
WE HEARD THAT AND THE MEDIA
FLASHED THAT AND WE WERE LOOKING
FOR THAT OUT, WE WERE LOOKING
FOR, THERE IT IS, I KNEW IT.
I WAS JUST WAITING ON IT.
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I
DO THINK PEOPLE AS WE SIGHT IT
COME BACK BY THE END OF THE WEEK
I THINK THEY'RE SAYING IT WILL
BE BACK USING J & J I THINK
PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE
OPEN TO RECEIVING THAT ONE DOSE.
>> Renee: ONE AND DONE.
I STILL THAT IS GOING TO BE BEST
FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS I DO
THINK PEOPLE ARE GLAD THAT THEY
HAVE THE CHOICE OF MODERNA OR
PFIZER CURRENTLY.
I THINK PEOPLE I'M GLAD I HAVE A
CHOICE WE ALL LIKE TO KNOW THAT
BUT I DO THINK FOR OUR HOME
BOUND, FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T GET
OUT, THE J & J IS LOGISTICALLY
THE VACCINE THAT SHOULD BE USED.
>> Renee: SOME OF THE OTHER
THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT,
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, ALL OF
THAT, THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE
THAT AND THEY WERE STILL TRYING
TO PROOF THERE WAS A DIRECT
CORRELATION WITH THE WOMEN IT IS
INTERESTING IT WAS WOMEN.
SO THERE ARE STILL SOME
QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.
I TOOK MY VACCINE.
I STEPPED OUT ON FAITH AND SAID
I'M GOING TO DO THIS FOR ME AND
MY COMMUNITY, FOR MY FAMILY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG-TERM
EFFECTS, IF ANY, WILL BE BUT I
KNEW WHAT I HAD TO DO.
FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.
>> Renee: AND YOUR COMMUNITY,
TOO, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> SO AS WE LOOK AHEAD AND WE
HAVE HEARD THAT, WELL YOU MAY
HAVE TO TAKE A BOOSTER IN THE
FALL OR WHENEVER AFTER A PERIOD
OF SO MANY MONTHS JUST LIKE YOU
WOULD A FLU VACCINE.
IT MAY BECOME AN ANNUAL THING
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
THOUGHT, I COULD GET THE J & J
THOUGHT AND I WAS GOOD FOR THE
REST OF MY LIFE, HELP US
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE
SOMETHING RECURRING AND IT IS
NOT TO BE FEARED.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE
SAME THING YOU SAID WITH THE FLU
VACCINE.
THAT'S SOMETHING I DO.
I DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
I DO IT EVERY YEAR.
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC
AND WE LOOK AT VACCINE
DEVELOPMENT I THINK WE ARE GOING
TO SEE, I'M HOPING THAT BECOMES
JUST AS NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT
AS YOU DO THE FLU SHOT, IT
BECOMES NORMALIZED.
JUST SOMETHING WE DO I'M NOT
SAYING THAT THERE WON'T BE PREP
DAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T GET
THE FLU SHOT.
OUR FLU NUMBERS ARE STILL NOT
THE BEST BUT WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE
WILL REMEMBER IS THAT IF THIS
BECOMES SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
TO DO LONG-TERM STILL REMEMBER
WHAT WAS LOST REMEMBER WHAT WAS
LOST AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS
PANDEMIC AND IF THAT'S GOING TO
SAVE LIVES, THATth WHAT WE
HAVE TO DO.
WHERE IS THE EMPATHY AND
COMPASSION?
WE HAVE LOST THAT SO I STILL
THINK ABOUT, THIS IS WHAT WE
NEED TO DO TO PROTECT OUR
FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR
CO-WORKERS, YOU KNOW, WE COULD
GO ON AND ON $AND WE THINK ABOUT
THE VAIR VARIANTS AND YOU KNOW
BETTER THAN I, HOW VIRUSES WANT
AND DESIRE TO MUTATE.
THEY WANT TO FIND NEW PLACES TO
HARBOR AND HARVEST AND SPREAD.
AND SO WOULD IT BE IMPORTANT AS
WE GO ALONG TO PROTECT OURSELVES
AGAINST THESE EMERGING VARIANTS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOUR OUTCOME IS MUCH MORE IF YOU
HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED AND YOU
GET A VARIANT STRAIN OR YOU HAVE
THE VIRUS VERSUS THOSE OF US
THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.
WE HAVE A LEVEL OF PROTECTION
AND WOULD I RATHER HAVE THAT
LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO DECREASE
MY RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND
DEATH THAN TO NOT.
>> AND SO AS WE GET READY TO
CLOSE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
BEEN VACCINATED, I'M FULLY
VACCINATED AS WELL.
WE STILL NEED TO PRACTICE OUR
MITIGATION MEASURES, CORRECTED?
>> YES.
>> STILL WEAR YOUR MASK, SOCIAL
DISTANCING, MORE THAN SIX FEET
APART.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE
IMPORTANT UNTIL WHEN.
>> UNTIL WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY,
UNTIL WE REACH THAT 75 TO 80% OF
OUR POPULATION BEING PROTECTED,
UNTIL WE REACH THAT NUMBER,
WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE
IT'S STILL A MOVING TARGET,
RIGHT?
WE STILL NEED TO BE VIGILANT.
WE STILL NEED TO PRACTICE THOSE
THINGS AND I'M NOT SURE WE WILL
EVER GO BACK TO GIVING THE
KISSES AND HUGSES THAT WE USE
TO.
I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE
THINK ABOUT FROM NOW ON.
AS WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.
>> Renee: POT LUCKS,.
>> AND THE BUFFETS AND A LOT OF
THOSE THINGS THAT WE USED TO
TALK FOR GRANTED OR WE USED TO
SAY THAT THEY WILL BE AROUND
FOREVER MAY NOT BE.
THEY MAY NOT BE.
>> Renee: VIVIAN GAVE ME A GREAT
FUTURE EPISODE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE WORLD AFTER
COVID AND HOW PARTICULARLY IT
EFFECTS DISPARATE COMMUNITIES.
LOOK FOR THAT.
SHE WILL BE ON TO TALK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US FOR
A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE US A
PERSPECTIVE.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOU FOR THE
COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS
EDITION OF CONNECTIONS WITH WE
TALKED ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY
AND HOW THIS DISEASE HAS EFFECT
AFFECTED THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE FOR YOU
TO UNDERSTAND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
WATCHING.
TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.