‘They don’t tell you what’s in it’: Racial gap linked to vaccine hesitancy – WBAL TV Baltimore

COMMUNITIES TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE VACCINE. >> IM 75 YEARS OLD AND I -- >> YOU DONT THINK YOU NEEDED? REPORTER: BENJAMIN WAS TYPICAL OF PEOPLE WE SPOKE WITH TODAY, AWARE OF THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN, BUT UNINTERESTED, OR AFRAID OF SIGNING UP. >> I DONT THINK THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN INFORMED ENOUGH ABOUT THE VACCINE. AND I AM JUST LEERY ABOUT THE LONG TERM EFFECT IT MAY HAVE LATER ON. >> THEY DONT TELL YOU WHATS IN IT. THEY SAY TAKE A NEEDLE. TELL ME WHAT THE NEEDLE IS CONSISTING OF. I KNOW IT IS CONSISTING FOR THE CORONA BUT WHAT IS IN IT. REPORTER: WHILE VACCINE SUPPLY IS LIMITED, THE STATES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN NOW BEEN GOING ON FOR A FULL MONTH. TO DATE, 406,000 PEOPLE IN MARYLAND HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE. BUT JUST 14.8% OF RECIPIENTS ARE BLACK. BLACK PEOPLE REPRESENT 31% OF THE STATES POPULATION. AT THE SAME TIME, BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY COVID DEATHS. 6900 PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS IN MARYLAND. 35% WERE BLACK PEOPLE. WHILE THE GOVERNOR KICKED OFF A STATEWIDE MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE VACCINE, BALTIMORES MAYOR SAID THE CITY IS ALSO IS PLANNING ITS OWN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN. COMMUNITY BASED. >> WE KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE COMMUNITY MESSENGERS TOO. FOLKS, BARBERS, BEAUTICIANS THOSE KIND OF FOLKS. PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING DAY CARES. REPORTER: ROBERT TYLER TOLD US SEEING A LEADER LIKE THE PRESIDENT GET VACCINATED GAVE HIM CONFIDENCE. >> YOU NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE PRESIDENT AND THEM. IF THEY CAN TAKE IT AND THEY ARE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, IM GOING ALONG WITH WHAT THEY DO. MY LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT. REPORTER: THE LIMITATIONS ON THIS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN AT THIS POINT, THIS WEEK, THE CITY ADMINISTERED 2260 DOSES OF THE COVID VACCINE AT THE BALTIMORE CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THE ONLY PUBLIC SITE IN THE CIT

'They don't tell you what's in it': Racial gap linked to vaccine hesitancy

Updated: 6:14 PM EST Jan 29, 2021

Closing Maryland's racial gap in COVID-19 vaccinations poses a steep challenge as mistrust in the vaccine lingers.|| Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||Vaccine hesitancy is a big reason the rate of vaccination in communities of color is disproportionately low. The 11 News I-Team spoke with shoppers Friday at Mondawmin Mall, some of which said they are not going to get vaccinated because they're scared. One after another, the I-Team heard people express fear of the vaccine and concern about unanswered questions.Simon Benjamin, like many of the people the I-Team spoke with, is aware of the coronavirus vaccination campaign but uninterested or afraid of signing up."I'm 75 years old. I have confidence myself," Benjamin said.Asked whether he'll get the vaccine, Benjamin said: "Not at the moment.""I don't know nothing about it, I really don't. They don't tell you what's in it. They say, 'Take a needle.' Tell me what the needle is consisting of. I know it is consisting for the (coronavirus), but what is in it?" Beryl James said."I don't think the public has been informed enough about the vaccine, and I am just leery about the long-term effect it may have later on," Sheryl Hicks said.Maryland online vaccination site locatorVaccine Data DashboardMaryland vaccination plan FAQsWhile vaccine supply is limited, the state's vaccination campaign has been going on now for a full month. To date, 406,168 Marylanders have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but just 14.8% of recipients are Black, despite representing 31% of Maryland's population.Black people have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 deaths. As of Friday, 6,900 Marylanders have died from the virus, 35% of which were Black people.While the governor on Friday kicked off a statewide media campaign to promote the vaccine, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the city is planning its own community-based outreach campaign."We know we have to have community messengers, too -- barbers, beauticians, those kind of folks, people who are running day cares," Scott said.The mayor said he will get vaccinated. He is eligible now as a government official but is waiting due to his age."When we have more vaccine and we are in the phase where a normal 36-year-old would get it, I will get it," Scott said. "I feel very hesitant about jumping the line over a 75-, 76- or 80-year-old in Baltimore City because of the lack of vaccine."Back at the mall, Robert Tyler told 11 News that seeing a leader like the president get vaccinated gave him confidence."You know, a lot of people like the president and them, if they can take it and they are more comfortable with it, I'm going along with what they do," Tyler said. "My life is more important."This week, Baltimore City administered 2,260 doses of vaccine at the Baltimore City Community College site, which is currently the city's main vaccination public site.

Closing Maryland's racial gap in COVID-19 vaccinations poses a steep challenge as mistrust in the vaccine lingers.

|| Coronavirus updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||

Vaccine hesitancy is a big reason the rate of vaccination in communities of color is disproportionately low.

The 11 News I-Team spoke with shoppers Friday at Mondawmin Mall, some of which said they are not going to get vaccinated because they're scared. One after another, the I-Team heard people express fear of the vaccine and concern about unanswered questions.

Simon Benjamin, like many of the people the I-Team spoke with, is aware of the coronavirus vaccination campaign but uninterested or afraid of signing up.

"I'm 75 years old. I have confidence myself," Benjamin said.

Asked whether he'll get the vaccine, Benjamin said: "Not at the moment."

"I don't know nothing about it, I really don't. They don't tell you what's in it. They say, 'Take a needle.' Tell me what the needle is consisting of. I know it is consisting for the (coronavirus), but what is in it?" Beryl James said.

"I don't think the public has been informed enough about the vaccine, and I am just leery about the long-term effect it may have later on," Sheryl Hicks said.

While vaccine supply is limited, the state's vaccination campaign has been going on now for a full month. To date, 406,168 Marylanders have received at least one dose of the vaccine, but just 14.8% of recipients are Black, despite representing 31% of Maryland's population.

Black people have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 deaths. As of Friday, 6,900 Marylanders have died from the virus, 35% of which were Black people.

While the governor on Friday kicked off a statewide media campaign to promote the vaccine, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the city is planning its own community-based outreach campaign.

"We know we have to have community messengers, too -- barbers, beauticians, those kind of folks, people who are running day cares," Scott said.

The mayor said he will get vaccinated. He is eligible now as a government official but is waiting due to his age.

"When we have more vaccine and we are in the phase where a normal 36-year-old would get it, I will get it," Scott said. "I feel very hesitant about jumping the line over a 75-, 76- or 80-year-old in Baltimore City because of the lack of vaccine."

Back at the mall, Robert Tyler told 11 News that seeing a leader like the president get vaccinated gave him confidence.

"You know, a lot of people like the president and them, if they can take it and they are more comfortable with it, I'm going along with what they do," Tyler said. "My life is more important."

This week, Baltimore City administered 2,260 doses of vaccine at the Baltimore City Community College site, which is currently the city's main vaccination public site.

The rest is here:

'They don't tell you what's in it': Racial gap linked to vaccine hesitancy - WBAL TV Baltimore