‘We have confidence’: HU president, Hampton mayor and school superintendent get vaccine to help reassure others

HAMPTON — Three of the best-known Black leaders in Hampton took a shot in the arm Wednesday, hoping to show everyone it’s OK to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Hampton University President William Harvey, Mayor Donnie Tuck and school Superintendent Jeffery Smith rolled up their sleeves amid medical staff at Sentara CarePlex to receive the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Taking the shot while being recorded on Facebook Live, they did it for their own health and to offer assurance to those afraid to get the vaccine.

“That wasn’t bad. My understanding is I will be sore tomorrow,” Tuck said. Later he added: “The idea was to put it out front that this is vital to the well being of the community and as African Americans, leaders, we want to show the community we have confidence in the safety of the vaccination.”

“If by example, if we can get a few people to change their minds, this day will be well worth it,” Harvey said, noting that many people are skeptical.

Many have trepidation about testing out the vaccine, particularly among the Black community. Long-standing concerns about Blacks being used unfairly in clinical trials is one reason. Nationally, the coronavirus has disproportionately swept through the Black community, which is nearly three time more likely to see deaths from the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Harvey spoke of the Tuskegee Experiment, a non-therapeutic study that began in 1932 involving several hundred male sharecroppers. They were injected with syphilis by federal health officials without their informed consent to study the bacteria, according to the CDC website.

“It went on for about 40 years and it was shameful, no doubt about it. As shameful as it was, this (vaccine) is a good thing,” Harvey said.

Virginia has reported more than 4,251 confirmed deaths statewide due to the coronavirus and some 271, 811 confirmed cases, according to the most recent figures from state health. It has killed more than 320,000 people nationwide.

Earlier in the pandemic, Virginia state health and many health agencies did not report out metrics on the coronavirus broken down by race. More recently, a breakdown by race and ethnic demographics shows 54,724 Blacks in Virginia have had the coronavirus, and 1,153 have died.

In Hampton there have been 58 new cases as of Wednesday afternoon. Since the pandemic began, there have been 3,988 cases overall and 43 deaths.

“You only have about 42% African Americans nationally who have expressed a willingness to take the vaccine,” Tuck said. “We actually have to get a by-in from the community, particular African Americans ... and even among the people who are front line workers, responders and educators. Some of them aren’t necessarily eager to get the shot.”

Smith, who joined Tuck and Harvey, said the time to build trust in the community begins now, not four months from now. Harvey, 79, said he would like to see as many health care professionals, older and younger people as possible get the vaccine when it become available.

“That’s my hope. I really believe that is our salvation,” Harvey said.