UGA study finds past injustices contribute to medical mistrust with COVID-19 vaccines – Red and Black

Black Americans living in Tuskegee, Alabama, close to the location of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, were slower to get their COVID-19 vaccines compared to white neighbors, according to a study conducted by University of Georgia researchers.

The study explored the long-term effects of the Tuskegee Study on on the behavior of Black populations regarding getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study began in 1932 in Macon County, Alabama. Researchers aimed to study the full progression of syphilis, which did not have a cure at the beginning of the study. About 600 Black men, 399 with latent syphilis and 201 healthy men, were recruited for the study, according to the History Channel. The men believed they were receiving free treatment for bad blood, a term used in the area referring to a variety of illnesses.

In 1947, penicillin became the recommended treatment for syphilis. However, researchers chose not to treat the men and gave them placebos like aspirin and mineral supplements. Researchers watched as men died, went blind or insane. The story was made public by an AP reporter in 1972, sparking public outrage and causing the study to be shut down.

Black Americans experienced more exposure, illness and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with other groups. However, Black Americans, especially those who live within 750 miles of Tuskegee, were less likely to get vaccinated in comparison with white individuals residing in the same counties, the UGA study found.

To confirm living close to Tuskegee was uniquely contributing to the vaccine resistance, the UGA researchers ran a number of analyses that acted as statistical placebo effects.

The research suggests Black populations who have memory of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study lack trust in government entities, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, which were central to vaccine initiative and promotion.

Xiaolong Chris Hou, a graduate student in the UGA College of Public Health, added its important for policymakers and public health leaders who are seeking to close gaps in health disparities to take historical contexts into consideration.

Zhuo Adam Chen, an associate professor of health policy and management in the College of Public Health, said interventions to the community must be tailored and work through individuals, like faith and civic leaders, to build trust and buy-in.

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UGA study finds past injustices contribute to medical mistrust with COVID-19 vaccines - Red and Black