Town hall set to discuss COVID vaccine, diversity
The state of Michigan will host a virtual town hall addressing questions about the COVID-19 vaccine within communities of color on Feb. 25.
The one-hour event, which starts at 4 p.m., features Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist; N. Charles Anderson of the Urban League of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan; and more.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is the best hope for ending the pandemic and returning to a sense of normalcy in our everyday lives. Questions about the vaccine are understandable – particularly for those in our hardest impacted communities,” Khaldun said. “For Black and Brown communities who have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, this is truly a matter of life or death – and getting the vaccine is choosing life.”
The town hall will be live-streamed at Facebook. com/MichiganHHS.
In order to reach community-wide immunity that can protect others who cannot get vaccinated, about 70% of Americans need to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, persons of color have faced devastating and disproportionate harm, both nationally and here in Michigan. The cumulative COVID-19 case rate in Black and African American populations has been more than 40% higher than the rate in white populations. In addition, the cumulative COVID-19 death rate in Black and African American populations has been over three times the rate in white populations.
According to research, 66% of Michiganders are likely or very likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine and 34% would like to get it as soon as possible. However, there are disparities when it comes to who is likely to get the vaccine with 47% of white Michiganders very likely to get the vaccine versus 25% of black Michiganders.
Ahead of the discussion, attendees are encouraged to submit their questions for the town hall about the COVID-19 vaccine. Any questions that cannot be answered during the town halls due to time constraints, will be reviewed and added to the State of Michigan COVID-19 vaccine frequently asked questions.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan. gov/Coronavirus and CDC. gov/Coronavirus. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Michigan.gov/ COVIDVaccine