Black medical professionals from Cedars-Sinai Hospital are participating in a series of videos aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy within the Black community.
It’s part of a campaign called “Doses of Hope,” which seeks to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in areas with vulnerable populations. This includes the Black community, where vaccination rates in Los Angeles are lower than in non-Black areas.
In last week's COVID-19 data for L.A. County, it was revealed young Black and Latino residents had the lowest vaccination rates in the county. Black residents had the highest rate of new infections.
Anesthesiologist Dr. Calvin Johnson told KNX 1070 when he talks to friends who are hesitant to get the vaccine, he asks them what they’re afraid of.
“There are so many questions about [medical care] as a Black man… Is this just another Tuskegee experiment study? Is it safe?" Johnson began.
“It's safe. It’s not the same. It’s not the past,” said Johnson.
Nurse Gena Smith told KNX 1070 she had fears about the vaccines that she had to overcome herself.
“I would talk myself through it and say, ‘you know Gena, you’re making the right decisions,’” she said.