Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) held a press conference today alongside several community leaders from Southwestern Pennsylvania to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine and the spread of misinformation.
Panelists like local faith leader Dr. John Welch said misinformation about the vaccine and distrust in the healthcare system in underserved communities, where COVID-19 is more prevalent, has been a growing issue.
He highlighted a program currently in the works called Spread Truth, Not COVID.
According to Welch, the program is contracted by the Allegheny County Health Department through company MEE Productions which specializes in developing relevant messages for underserved audiences.
Related
"A digital campaign that will put truthful information into hands of trusted individuals within the communities," Welch said.
Welch says the program will focus on 16 communities in Allegheny County, including communities of color and the LGBTQIA community.
Casey believes its up to federal officials to combat the distrust in the system.
"President Biden and every elected official in Congress, especially, has an obligation to tell the truth about the pandemic and about the vaccines," he said.
Related
Panelists said some of the misinformation spread about the vaccine pertains to its safety.
Dr. Jerome Gloster, CEO of Primary Health Services and pastor at Bethany Baptist Church reassured the speed with which the vaccine was released had to do with the amount of money and manpower dedicated to the effort.
"It was simply a sense of the ability of our system with support financially to move through the process more quickly, and that's what has allowed the vaccine to come out more quickly," he said. "It is fully safe."
Related
Casey called the vaccine a "bright light," but admits Pennsylvania needs to vaccinate its residents more quickly.