BUFFALO (WBEN) - Governor Andrew Cuomo has made it a point during his almost daily COVID-19 briefings to share his concern regarding equitable distribution of the vaccine - a vaccine that is fairly distributed to communities of color.
"The Black, Brown and poor communities have paid the highest price for COVID. Why? Because it exposed an inherent discrimination in our healthcare system," said Cuomo. "They live in communities with less access to healthcare; they have a higher level of pre-existing conditions. Blacks died at twice the rate at twice the rate of whites. Browns dies at one-and-a-half times the rate of whites.
"COVID testing was at a lower level in the Black, Brown and poor communities," the governor continued. "I'm not going to enhance and aggravate the discrimination that has already been manifested by now excluding them or discriminating against them in the vaccination process."
Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen shares Cuomo's concern.
"I'm always concerned about communities of color, especially when it comes to healthcare and healthcare disparities," said Pridgen, who also serves as bishop and senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church.
While Pridgen does not at all question Cuomo's motives, he also discussed an apprehension to accept this vaccine within communities of color that could make the distribution process more complicated.
"What I'm finding is that there's a growing distrust right now in the community," said Pridgen, saying he has spoken with healthcare providers who are very concerned about the Black and Brown community being among the first to receive the vaccine. "Although there's science behind it, there's still a fear that there may be some conditions that may stay with the person after getting the vaccine.
"I think this is about trust, and I think if that trust factor is not included, that it may be admirable to try to get the vaccine into communities of color, but it may also be seen as experimental with people of color," Priden continued. "I really wasn't aware of that feeling until recently."
Regardless of demographics, Cuomo understands that there's likely to be pushback against a vaccine that was developed so quickly, saying the data suggests the American public is rather timid about a vaccine that doesn't come with years and years of scientific data and study.
"I would never ask anyone in the state to take a vaccine that I was unwilling to take myself," said Cuomo at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
According to the governor, getting people to accept the vaccine will be a large part of this already massive governmental undertaking - the likes of which hasn't been seen since World War II.
"It's more than just making the vaccine available in certain communities," said Pridgen. "It is also assuring them, in some type of way that seems acceptable to them, that this vaccine will not harm them in the future. The reality of what some on the outside believe is what I think will be a barrier to the program being rapidly distributed in some areas of color."
