March 31, 2021 • 24 mins
The development of COVID-19 vaccines, questions about mRNA technology, equitable distribution, and uncertainty about the long-term effects aren't the only factors fueling vaccine hesitancy amongst African Americans: a history of harmful studies, medical malpractice, and health care inequities continues to impact the community today. In this first episode of Covid-19 Immunity In Our Community, host Robin Roberts chats with Sandra Lindsay, the first American and first Black American to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair in the Biden administration, about how we can start to rebuild the Black community's trust in the vaccines, in order to achieve herd immunity and, hopefully, regain some sense of normalcy in our everyday lives.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello on Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America, and
welcome to COVID nineteen Immunity in Our Community and innovative
new podcast series brought to you by the U. S
Department of Health and Human Services. COVID nineteen Immunity in
Our Community has been created to provide you with the
(00:22):
groundbreaking science, honest facts, and unvarnished truth you need to
know about the deadly coronavirus and the revolutionary vaccines that
can put this pandemic behind us and bring a bit
of normalcy back to all of us. And in this
first episode, we're digging into some of the concerns within
the black community when it comes to COVID nineteen vaccines.
(00:46):
Many Black Americans don't trust the medical industry due to
a troubling history of harmful health studies, medical malpractice, and
an equal access to healthcare for people of color. If
you're a Black American, you but we have some questions
and concerns of your own about whether the COVID nineteen
vaccines are safe and effective. Today, we'll set the record straight. First,
(01:15):
we'll hear from Sandra Lindsay, a nurse and patient services
director in the Intensive care Unit at Long Island Jewish
Medical Center in New York. Now, if Sandra's name sounds
familiar to you, that's probably because you saw her featured
in the news as the first American to receive the
COVID nineteen vaccine. She and her team and the IIC
(01:35):
you have seen the devastation from COVID nineteen firsthand, and
yet some of her fellow staff members, black individuals in particular,
we're still hesitant to get vaccinated. We're gonna chat with
Miss Lindsay about how she came to the decision to
get her first shot, what it was like to get
the vaccine, and why she would encourage others to follow suit.
(01:57):
After that, stay tuned as we cha at with Dr
Marcella Nounez Smith, Associate Dean for Health Equity Research at
Yale School of Medicine and share of the COVID nineteen
Health Equity Task Force. She's here to share with us
the scientific facts about the available COVID nineteen vaccines and
how doctors and health care leaders can start to rebuild
(02:19):
the trust they've lost among the black community in order
to help get our country back on track in the
wake of the coronavirus. Nurse Sangel Lindsay has had a
first hand view of just how devastating COVID nineteen can be.
(02:40):
On the front lines. She's been watching people fight fevers
and chills, struggle for air, take their last breaths alone,
separated from the loved ones. When the vaccine rollout began,
she read through the entire fiser, studying not just to
see the safety results, but to see who was included,
making sure that folks like her, women, people of color
(03:03):
were represented. Sure enough, they were here. She shares with
us why when she saw that more and more of
her staff members were skeptical about the vaccine, she decided
to lead by example and become the first person to
receive a COVID nineteen vaccine in the US. Over the
(03:28):
past couple of months, since March last year, we've been
dealing with this pandemic. I have seen a lot of suffering,
a lot of pain, a lot of debts, and I
know that beyond what is recommended by the CDC in
terms of the spread of the virus, but in terms
(03:49):
of eradicate in the virus, I knew that we needed
something more than that. When the smallpox era, it was
a vaccination that really let us out of that dark era.
So I know that a vaccination would be what is
needed to help us get out of this dark time
(04:11):
that we now find ourselves in globally. I got a
call on December the evening asking if I was still
interested in taking the vaccine, and without hesitation, I said absolutely,
I am ready. I have been ready. So my chief
nurse and officer told me that the vaccine was scheduled
(04:35):
to arrive in New York and specifically at north Well
Health and at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. So she said,
if you're still interested in show up at eight o'clock.
She said, you know, I don't know how it's going
to work, but I suspect that the governor might be
there and they may ask you a few questions about
(04:56):
why you decided to take the vaccine. So I show
up with my arms ready to go. Could not wait
to get that shot. The vaccination happened thanks to Dr
Chester was very gentle and if you notice, I didn't flinch.
I was so ready for this moment. After that, I
(05:18):
said to my administrator, thank you very much. I feel
so lucky. I am grateful. I can't believe this moment
is here. I will see you later. And he said
where are you going? And I said back to work
and he said, no, you're not. And I said what
do you mean. He said, well, the press is here
and they want to speak to you. So the eleven
(05:39):
o'clock press conference happened, and then there was one after.
And my mom didn't know I was getting vaccinated, so
she started getting calls from news outlets and she calls
my brother after not being able to get me, to
find out what is going on. Is Sandra in trouble? Wise?
CNN calling here? So he turned on the TV and
(06:01):
my face and the vaccination process is all over the news,
So then he realized what was really happening. Minor side
effects such as fever, chills, or fatigue, can be experienced
after receiving a dose of any of the vaccines. Like
many Americans, Sandra had no noticeable side effects from her
(06:21):
first injection, but a rather curious reaction to the second.
I got the second vaccine on January four, and well,
same thing. I've braced myself nothing. Instead, I got energy.
I was so energized. I went for a nice long
(06:43):
run the next day. You know, I felt grateful and
and just really lucky to have this experience. So I
have not had any side effects, similarly to some of
the participants in the study who did not have side effects. Now,
some of my colleagues who have taken the vaccine after
the second dose, they noted mild fever, feeling we kind
(07:07):
of just wiped out. Some people describe it as foggy,
but all which lasted less than twenty four hours. And
I can tell you that compared to what I have seen,
that pales in comparison to actually get in COVID. Sandra
(07:30):
knows a number of fellow Black Americans who have reservations
about the vaccines, but even as a medical professional who
realizes their importance, her message to those skeptical folks in
her community is one of understanding and recognition. I think
that people in the black community have legitimate concerns that
(07:50):
I never tried to dismiss. For people who are hesitant
because of historical harmful events like the Tuskegee study, my
answer to a personal references that study is, when I
look at that study, it was never meant to help anyone.
It was set up to harm right up front. So
(08:14):
I first want to acknowledge that your hesitancy is real,
and I want you to know that, as a black woman,
I also grappled with those same sentiments in the past.
And I apologize to you for any pain and suffering
that you went through personally or a family member went
(08:37):
through or continues to go through because of harmful practices
or disparities in healthcare. I'll also say to you that
I have witness disproportionately how this virus is taking our
lives as minorities. So I would appeal to you to
(09:00):
rethink your position and come to an informed decision. And
I think also as a society, in order to build
that trust, which is going to take time, that we
alleviate some of the burdens moving forward, meaning that we
have access points readily available to people in the black
(09:24):
community who are hesitant because of distrustful practices, that in
order to build back trust, we need to make sure
that we alleviate some of the burdens moving forward and
address the underlying issues, not just now with the vaccine,
but moving forward. A lot of my time is spent
(09:48):
watching and listening and learning that was really important from
me so I could make an informed decision don't listen
to hear say what's on social media. I was supposed
to turn into a ghost by now, but I am
still here and you know I'm doing well. Everything has
(10:10):
risk and benefits, so you have to personally weigh out
the risk yourself and the benefits. But from what I
have seen, the risk of getting COVID is real. At
the moment, we have people around us that are carrying
this virus that we don't even know because they're not symptomatic.
I've seen the consequences of getting COVID firsthand. What I'm
(10:34):
afraid of is COVID. I am not afraid of the vaccine.
Like Sandra Lindsay, Dr Marcella Nona Smith knows that many
Black Americans are hesitant about getting vaccinated against COVID nineteen,
and she understands the reasons behind their reluctance. It's not
(10:57):
just because they're grappling with questions surrounding the unprecedented speed
of the vaccine's development, the new m r n A technology,
and the possible long term side effects of these vaccines
for black people. There's more to it here. In the
United States, we have a disgraceful history of racist treatment
and medical care from the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment to implicit
(11:21):
bias and healthcare to long establish structural inequities, and that
poor treatment has led many people in the black community
to distrust what they hear and see from scientists and
medical experts. Dr Marcella now Nees Smith is an epidemiologist
and public health specialists who went on to become Associate
(11:42):
Dean for Health Equity Research at Yale School of Medicine
and an adviser on President Biden's COVID nineteen response team.
Throughout her career, Dr Noones Smith has focused her research
on health and healthcare equity for marginalized communities and is
one of the leading experts in the US on disparities
and health care access. Doctor Nowoness Smith has been watching
(12:06):
the pandemic unfold since day one and as quick to
point out the disproportionate burden that people of color are
facing in the battle against COVID nineteen. She's seen COVID
nineteen killed twice as many black older adults as white
older adults. She knows she is facing a monumental challenge,
and she's determined to tackle the health disparities that Black
(12:26):
Americans are facing every day in the pandemic. While more
than thirteen percent of Americans identify as Black or African American,
black Americans make up less than seven percent of people
who have been vaccinated against COVID nineteen so far. Dr
Noones Smith is committed to closing that gap and making
sure that Black Americans get the protection they need against
(12:49):
a disease that has infected more than twenty eight million
Americans and killed more than half a million. Let's hear
what she has to say. I've been a practicing internal
medicine doctor for about two decades, and certainly one of
(13:09):
the things I learned early on as a medical student
and going through my residency and training is that when
we look at our patients in the hospital, so much
of what lands them there has to do with things
outside of what we can do with medications, and has
a lot to do with social economic realities, particularly for
our patients of color. And that's been very motivating for
(13:30):
me and launched a research career that I've been really
excited to pursue at Yale University, trying to get at
the root cause of a lot of these social structural
inequities in our communities. You know, the COVID nineteen pandemic
the corresponding economic crisis are just devastating Black communities. While
Black Americans are cent of the U S population, overall,
(13:54):
they represent nearly twenty four percent of age adjusted COVID
nineteen deaths. You know, our country is a a very
hopeful moment. We're looking ahead to increase vaccine supply, and
we're continuing to make great and important steps to get
the pandemic under control. But the reality is the early
data indicate the Black Americans are getting vaccinated or rates
(14:14):
below their representation in the general population. You know, that's
why seeing people like Sandra is just so important. It's
critical for black leaders to step up to be role
models at this time. Sandra Lindsay is a perfect example
of that. She's a trusted leader in her community and
someone working on the front line of the crisis as
a critical care nurse. You know, some people have questions
(14:35):
about the vaccines, and they need their questions answered by
people they know, people they trust. It's also important for
everyone to see people who understand science rolling up their
sleeves and getting vaccinated. It's a powerful message that we're
sending when we do that about the safety and efficacy
of the vaccines. Dr Nona Smith is in the unique
(14:57):
position both as a Black American and an expert in
the field, to point out some of the reasons why
exactly other Black Americans may be hesitant to get vaccinated
and what we can do about it. One of the
realities that we are confronting is we really have an
underrepresentation across our healthcare workforce. And when we look at
the proportion of African Americans and our general society around
(15:21):
but yes, still physicians around four to five percent. So
it's another call to action for us to really invest
more in diversifying our healthcare workforce, not just our doctors,
but also our nurses, urp is, our pharmacist, everyone. It's
critical that people feel connected with the providers that they see,
and having a diverse provider workforce will help get us there.
(15:46):
It's key when we're talking with communities that that we distinguish.
You know, what's different now than before when we saw
a Tuskegee Henrietta Lacks. I mean, sadly, the list goes
on and for a lot of people, you know, they
don't have to look even that far back. Right, even
though that's still contem very history. People have challenges now
(16:09):
trying to access healthcare, trying to feel respected well treated
within healthcare systems, and so that drives a lot of
the concerns that people have. But clinical research, now, you know,
it's so different. There are ethical guidelines in place that
prevent something like the repeat of Tuskeekeee. We see diverse
representation in who is leading research, who is leading on policy.
(16:34):
The vaccines were all tested in very large clinical trials.
You know, we have about of US participants in late
stage trials who identified as Hispanic, African American, Asian, or
Native American. About half were older adults. No one is
getting targeted separate from anyone else. This is about vaccinating
our entire country, getting safe and effective vaccines into every neighborhood,
(16:57):
every community, and every family. Every study, every phase of
every trial was carefully reviewed and approved by an independent
data and safety monitoring board at the FDA. Those processes
are transparent and the federal government has a robust system
to monitor safety over time. We should feel really confident
(17:18):
in the processes that got us to this point. You know,
I hear from lots of folks asking about side effects
of the vaccines. It's a great question. I think it's
important for everyone to know what to expect when taking
the vaccines. You know, such a soreness at the injection site,
and as evidence it's working, you might develop fever, chills,
body aches. Those resolved in a day or two. I
(17:41):
think it's also important to speak to some of the
misinformation and disinformation that's out there. You know, the m
R and A vaccines do not alter your body's DNA
and there is no evidence the vaccines cause in fertility.
Dr now Nea Smith has also had a personal experience
with friends and family who are still not convinced. Like
(18:01):
Sandra Lindsay, she takes a patient hypathetic approach, one rooted
in a deep understanding of their concerns. One of my
really good friends, and this has happened multiple times. You know,
I've had friends and colleagues who are physicians who have
texted me and asked me questions and said, hey, I'm
on the fence about getting vaccinated. You know, these conversations.
(18:23):
I think it's so important we take our time, we
talk to people one on one, um make sure we
hear what questions are answered. We should not make assumptions
that people who have concerns are uneducated or otherwise unable
to understand the science behind vaccine and vaccine development. We
really have to just respect and be respectful of the
(18:44):
questions everyone has. You know, I'm grateful to have been
vaccinated and have had both shots at this point, and
everybody in my family who is eligible to have encouraged them.
My own mom has gotten vaccinated, and all these colleagues
and physicians now have gotten their questions answer, and I
have gotten vaccinated, and in fact our writing out eds
and really taking that message out. It's just key for
(19:06):
those who are still on the fence to understand the
power of vaccination. You know, my advice is get vaccinated.
All COVID nineteen vaccines currently available in the United States
have been shown to be highly effective at preventing what
we really care about, which is severe illness, hospitalization, and
death from COVID nineteen. The concerns that some Black Americans
(19:28):
in particular have, um you know, are completely understandable when
we think about history and and actually even contemporary examples
of racist treatment. It really does reflect longstanding, deeply rooted
systemic realities. Precisely why equities at the center of the
Bid and Harris Administration's pandemic response. The federal Administration is
working with states and localities to support their efforts in
(19:51):
equitable vaccine distribution and highlighting best and promising practicing when
states are doing this well. And we've also launched a
series of federally run firts with a substantial focus on
making sure vaccination sites are located in the communities hit
the hardest by this pandemic. And we do that based
on measures such as the CDC's own Social Vulnerability Index.
(20:13):
You know, we have our community vaccination centers. Those are
mass vaccination sites, but also sites that can be stood
up in school gyms in our neighborhoods. Many of those
centers also have mobile capacity. We've supported or created nearly
four hundred mobile vaccination sites, and those are designed specifically
to get vaccines to people who might be hard to reach.
(20:33):
You know, we've launched a retail pharmacy program as well
as a partnership with community health centers across the country
to further extend vaccine availability through trusted entities in communities.
We're working with community and faith based organizations as well
as state and local officials to optimize the reach of
all these programs, making sure registration is straightforward and that
(20:54):
there are extended hours of access as just examples. The
Biden Harris administration is fully committed to ensuring quitable access
to vaccination for everyone in the country. In talking with
Sanjo Lindsay and Dr Noones Smith, it's important to note
(21:14):
that both healthcare workers emphasize how important it is to
listen to the experts and turn to the trustworthy science
behind the COVID nineteen vaccines. This is the same advice
echoed by all leaders across the medical community, including folks
like Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr Francis Collins, director
(21:36):
of the National Institutes of Health. Vaccinations are now rolling
out throughout the United States. When it's your turn, please
don't delay. Follow Sandra Lindsay's lead and join millions of
your fellow Americans by scheduling your vaccination appointment as soon
as you can. The CDC has recommendations for who should
(21:59):
bevaccinated first, and every state has its own vaccine rollout
plan based on your age, health conditions, and risk of exposure.
To get vaccinated, go to CDC dot gov forward slash
coronavirus and scroll down to the middle of the page
to click on the word vaccines. From there, click on
(22:20):
Vaccine Finder, and the site will help you determine where
you can get the vaccine and how to make an appointment.
You don't have to worry about paying for your vaccine.
Your taxpayer dollars are funding the rollout, so there's no
individual cost to you. If someone asks you to provide
your insurance information, that's only so your vaccination provider can
(22:40):
build your insurance for the administrative costs, but you will
not be personally responsible for any expenses. I'd like to
thank our guest Sanjuel Lindsay and Dr new Nes Smith
for sharing their stories and insights with us today. I
hope that you'll tune in next week when we talk
about how vaccines went from development in to the arms
(23:00):
of Americans in less than just a year's time. COVID
nineteen immunity in our community was developed and paid for
by the U. S Department of Health and Human Services,
part of a public education campaign to increase public confidence
in COVID nineteen vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures. We
(23:24):
Can Do This, presented by iHeart Radio and ABC News.
This podcast is hosted by me Robin Roberts. This episode
was executive produced by Ethan Fixel, written by Stephanie Thuratt,
and engineered, edited, and mixed by my Man Matt Stillo,
with original theme music by Brad Kemp. If you haven't
(23:45):
already subscribed, rated, or reviewed COVID nineteen Immunity in Our Community,
please do so on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast,
or wherever you get your podcasts until our next episode.
I'm Robin Roberts and this is COVID nineteen Immunity in
Our Community. Thank you for listening. H
Hello on Robin Roberts of ABC's Good Morning America, and
welcome to COVID nineteen Immunity in Our Community and innovative
new podcast series brought to you by the U. S
Department of Health and Human Services. COVID nineteen Immunity in
Our Community has been created to provide you with the
(00:22):
groundbreaking science, honest facts, and unvarnished truth you need to
know about the deadly coronavirus and the revolutionary vaccines that
can put this pandemic behind us and bring a bit
of normalcy back to all of us. And in this
first episode, we're digging into some of the concerns within
the black community when it comes to COVID nineteen vaccines.
(00:46):
Many Black Americans don't trust the medical industry due to
a troubling history of harmful health studies, medical malpractice, and
an equal access to healthcare for people of color. If
you're a Black American, you but we have some questions
and concerns of your own about whether the COVID nineteen
vaccines are safe and effective. Today, we'll set the record straight. First,
(01:15):
we'll hear from Sandra Lindsay, a nurse and patient services
director in the Intensive care Unit at Long Island Jewish
Medical Center in New York. Now, if Sandra's name sounds
familiar to you, that's probably because you saw her featured
in the news as the first American to receive the
COVID nineteen vaccine. She and her team and the IIC
(01:35):
you have seen the devastation from COVID nineteen firsthand, and
yet some of her fellow staff members, black individuals in particular,
we're still hesitant to get vaccinated. We're gonna chat with
Miss Lindsay about how she came to the decision to
get her first shot, what it was like to get
the vaccine, and why she would encourage others to follow suit.
(01:57):
After that, stay tuned as we cha at with Dr
Marcella Nounez Smith, Associate Dean for Health Equity Research at
Yale School of Medicine and share of the COVID nineteen
Health Equity Task Force. She's here to share with us
the scientific facts about the available COVID nineteen vaccines and
how doctors and health care leaders can start to rebuild
(02:19):
the trust they've lost among the black community in order
to help get our country back on track in the
wake of the coronavirus. Nurse Sangel Lindsay has had a
first hand view of just how devastating COVID nineteen can be.
(02:40):
On the front lines. She's been watching people fight fevers
and chills, struggle for air, take their last breaths alone,
separated from the loved ones. When the vaccine rollout began,
she read through the entire fiser, studying not just to
see the safety results, but to see who was included,
making sure that folks like her, women, people of color
(03:03):
were represented. Sure enough, they were here. She shares with
us why when she saw that more and more of
her staff members were skeptical about the vaccine, she decided
to lead by example and become the first person to
receive a COVID nineteen vaccine in the US. Over the
(03:28):
past couple of months, since March last year, we've been
dealing with this pandemic. I have seen a lot of suffering,
a lot of pain, a lot of debts, and I
know that beyond what is recommended by the CDC in
terms of the spread of the virus, but in terms
(03:49):
of eradicate in the virus, I knew that we needed
something more than that. When the smallpox era, it was
a vaccination that really let us out of that dark era.
So I know that a vaccination would be what is
needed to help us get out of this dark time
(04:11):
that we now find ourselves in globally. I got a
call on December the evening asking if I was still
interested in taking the vaccine, and without hesitation, I said absolutely,
I am ready. I have been ready. So my chief
nurse and officer told me that the vaccine was scheduled
(04:35):
to arrive in New York and specifically at north Well
Health and at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. So she said,
if you're still interested in show up at eight o'clock.
She said, you know, I don't know how it's going
to work, but I suspect that the governor might be
there and they may ask you a few questions about
(04:56):
why you decided to take the vaccine. So I show
up with my arms ready to go. Could not wait
to get that shot. The vaccination happened thanks to Dr
Chester was very gentle and if you notice, I didn't flinch.
I was so ready for this moment. After that, I
(05:18):
said to my administrator, thank you very much. I feel
so lucky. I am grateful. I can't believe this moment
is here. I will see you later. And he said
where are you going? And I said back to work
and he said, no, you're not. And I said what
do you mean. He said, well, the press is here
and they want to speak to you. So the eleven
(05:39):
o'clock press conference happened, and then there was one after.
And my mom didn't know I was getting vaccinated, so
she started getting calls from news outlets and she calls
my brother after not being able to get me, to
find out what is going on. Is Sandra in trouble? Wise?
CNN calling here? So he turned on the TV and
(06:01):
my face and the vaccination process is all over the news,
So then he realized what was really happening. Minor side
effects such as fever, chills, or fatigue, can be experienced
after receiving a dose of any of the vaccines. Like
many Americans, Sandra had no noticeable side effects from her
(06:21):
first injection, but a rather curious reaction to the second.
I got the second vaccine on January four, and well,
same thing. I've braced myself nothing. Instead, I got energy.
I was so energized. I went for a nice long
(06:43):
run the next day. You know, I felt grateful and
and just really lucky to have this experience. So I
have not had any side effects, similarly to some of
the participants in the study who did not have side effects. Now,
some of my colleagues who have taken the vaccine after
the second dose, they noted mild fever, feeling we kind
(07:07):
of just wiped out. Some people describe it as foggy,
but all which lasted less than twenty four hours. And
I can tell you that compared to what I have seen,
that pales in comparison to actually get in COVID. Sandra
(07:30):
knows a number of fellow Black Americans who have reservations
about the vaccines, but even as a medical professional who
realizes their importance, her message to those skeptical folks in
her community is one of understanding and recognition. I think
that people in the black community have legitimate concerns that
(07:50):
I never tried to dismiss. For people who are hesitant
because of historical harmful events like the Tuskegee study, my
answer to a personal references that study is, when I
look at that study, it was never meant to help anyone.
It was set up to harm right up front. So
(08:14):
I first want to acknowledge that your hesitancy is real,
and I want you to know that, as a black woman,
I also grappled with those same sentiments in the past.
And I apologize to you for any pain and suffering
that you went through personally or a family member went
(08:37):
through or continues to go through because of harmful practices
or disparities in healthcare. I'll also say to you that
I have witness disproportionately how this virus is taking our
lives as minorities. So I would appeal to you to
(09:00):
rethink your position and come to an informed decision. And
I think also as a society, in order to build
that trust, which is going to take time, that we
alleviate some of the burdens moving forward, meaning that we
have access points readily available to people in the black
(09:24):
community who are hesitant because of distrustful practices, that in
order to build back trust, we need to make sure
that we alleviate some of the burdens moving forward and
address the underlying issues, not just now with the vaccine,
but moving forward. A lot of my time is spent
(09:48):
watching and listening and learning that was really important from
me so I could make an informed decision don't listen
to hear say what's on social media. I was supposed
to turn into a ghost by now, but I am
still here and you know I'm doing well. Everything has
(10:10):
risk and benefits, so you have to personally weigh out
the risk yourself and the benefits. But from what I
have seen, the risk of getting COVID is real. At
the moment, we have people around us that are carrying
this virus that we don't even know because they're not symptomatic.
I've seen the consequences of getting COVID firsthand. What I'm
(10:34):
afraid of is COVID. I am not afraid of the vaccine.
Like Sandra Lindsay, Dr Marcella Nona Smith knows that many
Black Americans are hesitant about getting vaccinated against COVID nineteen,
and she understands the reasons behind their reluctance. It's not
(10:57):
just because they're grappling with questions surrounding the unprecedented speed
of the vaccine's development, the new m r n A technology,
and the possible long term side effects of these vaccines
for black people. There's more to it here. In the
United States, we have a disgraceful history of racist treatment
and medical care from the Tuskegee Syphilis experiment to implicit
(11:21):
bias and healthcare to long establish structural inequities, and that
poor treatment has led many people in the black community
to distrust what they hear and see from scientists and
medical experts. Dr Marcella now Nees Smith is an epidemiologist
and public health specialists who went on to become Associate
(11:42):
Dean for Health Equity Research at Yale School of Medicine
and an adviser on President Biden's COVID nineteen response team.
Throughout her career, Dr Noones Smith has focused her research
on health and healthcare equity for marginalized communities and is
one of the leading experts in the US on disparities
and health care access. Doctor Nowoness Smith has been watching
(12:06):
the pandemic unfold since day one and as quick to
point out the disproportionate burden that people of color are
facing in the battle against COVID nineteen. She's seen COVID
nineteen killed twice as many black older adults as white
older adults. She knows she is facing a monumental challenge,
and she's determined to tackle the health disparities that Black
(12:26):
Americans are facing every day in the pandemic. While more
than thirteen percent of Americans identify as Black or African American,
black Americans make up less than seven percent of people
who have been vaccinated against COVID nineteen so far. Dr
Noones Smith is committed to closing that gap and making
sure that Black Americans get the protection they need against
(12:49):
a disease that has infected more than twenty eight million
Americans and killed more than half a million. Let's hear
what she has to say. I've been a practicing internal
medicine doctor for about two decades, and certainly one of
(13:09):
the things I learned early on as a medical student
and going through my residency and training is that when
we look at our patients in the hospital, so much
of what lands them there has to do with things
outside of what we can do with medications, and has
a lot to do with social economic realities, particularly for
our patients of color. And that's been very motivating for
(13:30):
me and launched a research career that I've been really
excited to pursue at Yale University, trying to get at
the root cause of a lot of these social structural
inequities in our communities. You know, the COVID nineteen pandemic
the corresponding economic crisis are just devastating Black communities. While
Black Americans are cent of the U S population, overall,
(13:54):
they represent nearly twenty four percent of age adjusted COVID
nineteen deaths. You know, our country is a a very
hopeful moment. We're looking ahead to increase vaccine supply, and
we're continuing to make great and important steps to get
the pandemic under control. But the reality is the early
data indicate the Black Americans are getting vaccinated or rates
(14:14):
below their representation in the general population. You know, that's
why seeing people like Sandra is just so important. It's
critical for black leaders to step up to be role
models at this time. Sandra Lindsay is a perfect example
of that. She's a trusted leader in her community and
someone working on the front line of the crisis as
a critical care nurse. You know, some people have questions
(14:35):
about the vaccines, and they need their questions answered by
people they know, people they trust. It's also important for
everyone to see people who understand science rolling up their
sleeves and getting vaccinated. It's a powerful message that we're
sending when we do that about the safety and efficacy
of the vaccines. Dr Nona Smith is in the unique
(14:57):
position both as a Black American and an expert in
the field, to point out some of the reasons why
exactly other Black Americans may be hesitant to get vaccinated
and what we can do about it. One of the
realities that we are confronting is we really have an
underrepresentation across our healthcare workforce. And when we look at
the proportion of African Americans and our general society around
(15:21):
but yes, still physicians around four to five percent. So
it's another call to action for us to really invest
more in diversifying our healthcare workforce, not just our doctors,
but also our nurses, urp is, our pharmacist, everyone. It's
critical that people feel connected with the providers that they see,
and having a diverse provider workforce will help get us there.
(15:46):
It's key when we're talking with communities that that we distinguish.
You know, what's different now than before when we saw
a Tuskegee Henrietta Lacks. I mean, sadly, the list goes
on and for a lot of people, you know, they
don't have to look even that far back. Right, even
though that's still contem very history. People have challenges now
(16:09):
trying to access healthcare, trying to feel respected well treated
within healthcare systems, and so that drives a lot of
the concerns that people have. But clinical research, now, you know,
it's so different. There are ethical guidelines in place that
prevent something like the repeat of Tuskeekeee. We see diverse
representation in who is leading research, who is leading on policy.
(16:34):
The vaccines were all tested in very large clinical trials.
You know, we have about of US participants in late
stage trials who identified as Hispanic, African American, Asian, or
Native American. About half were older adults. No one is
getting targeted separate from anyone else. This is about vaccinating
our entire country, getting safe and effective vaccines into every neighborhood,
(16:57):
every community, and every family. Every study, every phase of
every trial was carefully reviewed and approved by an independent
data and safety monitoring board at the FDA. Those processes
are transparent and the federal government has a robust system
to monitor safety over time. We should feel really confident
(17:18):
in the processes that got us to this point. You know,
I hear from lots of folks asking about side effects
of the vaccines. It's a great question. I think it's
important for everyone to know what to expect when taking
the vaccines. You know, such a soreness at the injection site,
and as evidence it's working, you might develop fever, chills,
body aches. Those resolved in a day or two. I
(17:41):
think it's also important to speak to some of the
misinformation and disinformation that's out there. You know, the m
R and A vaccines do not alter your body's DNA
and there is no evidence the vaccines cause in fertility.
Dr now Nea Smith has also had a personal experience
with friends and family who are still not convinced. Like
(18:01):
Sandra Lindsay, she takes a patient hypathetic approach, one rooted
in a deep understanding of their concerns. One of my
really good friends, and this has happened multiple times. You know,
I've had friends and colleagues who are physicians who have
texted me and asked me questions and said, hey, I'm
on the fence about getting vaccinated. You know, these conversations.
(18:23):
I think it's so important we take our time, we
talk to people one on one, um make sure we
hear what questions are answered. We should not make assumptions
that people who have concerns are uneducated or otherwise unable
to understand the science behind vaccine and vaccine development. We
really have to just respect and be respectful of the
(18:44):
questions everyone has. You know, I'm grateful to have been
vaccinated and have had both shots at this point, and
everybody in my family who is eligible to have encouraged them.
My own mom has gotten vaccinated, and all these colleagues
and physicians now have gotten their questions answer, and I
have gotten vaccinated, and in fact our writing out eds
and really taking that message out. It's just key for
(19:06):
those who are still on the fence to understand the
power of vaccination. You know, my advice is get vaccinated.
All COVID nineteen vaccines currently available in the United States
have been shown to be highly effective at preventing what
we really care about, which is severe illness, hospitalization, and
death from COVID nineteen. The concerns that some Black Americans
(19:28):
in particular have, um you know, are completely understandable when
we think about history and and actually even contemporary examples
of racist treatment. It really does reflect longstanding, deeply rooted
systemic realities. Precisely why equities at the center of the
Bid and Harris Administration's pandemic response. The federal Administration is
working with states and localities to support their efforts in
(19:51):
equitable vaccine distribution and highlighting best and promising practicing when
states are doing this well. And we've also launched a
series of federally run firts with a substantial focus on
making sure vaccination sites are located in the communities hit
the hardest by this pandemic. And we do that based
on measures such as the CDC's own Social Vulnerability Index.
(20:13):
You know, we have our community vaccination centers. Those are
mass vaccination sites, but also sites that can be stood
up in school gyms in our neighborhoods. Many of those
centers also have mobile capacity. We've supported or created nearly
four hundred mobile vaccination sites, and those are designed specifically
to get vaccines to people who might be hard to reach.
(20:33):
You know, we've launched a retail pharmacy program as well
as a partnership with community health centers across the country
to further extend vaccine availability through trusted entities in communities.
We're working with community and faith based organizations as well
as state and local officials to optimize the reach of
all these programs, making sure registration is straightforward and that
(20:54):
there are extended hours of access as just examples. The
Biden Harris administration is fully committed to ensuring quitable access
to vaccination for everyone in the country. In talking with
Sanjo Lindsay and Dr Noones Smith, it's important to note
(21:14):
that both healthcare workers emphasize how important it is to
listen to the experts and turn to the trustworthy science
behind the COVID nineteen vaccines. This is the same advice
echoed by all leaders across the medical community, including folks
like Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr Francis Collins, director
(21:36):
of the National Institutes of Health. Vaccinations are now rolling
out throughout the United States. When it's your turn, please
don't delay. Follow Sandra Lindsay's lead and join millions of
your fellow Americans by scheduling your vaccination appointment as soon
as you can. The CDC has recommendations for who should
(21:59):
bevaccinated first, and every state has its own vaccine rollout
plan based on your age, health conditions, and risk of exposure.
To get vaccinated, go to CDC dot gov forward slash
coronavirus and scroll down to the middle of the page
to click on the word vaccines. From there, click on
(22:20):
Vaccine Finder, and the site will help you determine where
you can get the vaccine and how to make an appointment.
You don't have to worry about paying for your vaccine.
Your taxpayer dollars are funding the rollout, so there's no
individual cost to you. If someone asks you to provide
your insurance information, that's only so your vaccination provider can
(22:40):
build your insurance for the administrative costs, but you will
not be personally responsible for any expenses. I'd like to
thank our guest Sanjuel Lindsay and Dr new Nes Smith
for sharing their stories and insights with us today. I
hope that you'll tune in next week when we talk
about how vaccines went from development in to the arms
(23:00):
of Americans in less than just a year's time. COVID
nineteen immunity in our community was developed and paid for
by the U. S Department of Health and Human Services,
part of a public education campaign to increase public confidence
in COVID nineteen vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures. We
(23:24):
Can Do This, presented by iHeart Radio and ABC News.
This podcast is hosted by me Robin Roberts. This episode
was executive produced by Ethan Fixel, written by Stephanie Thuratt,
and engineered, edited, and mixed by my Man Matt Stillo,
with original theme music by Brad Kemp. If you haven't
(23:45):
already subscribed, rated, or reviewed COVID nineteen Immunity in Our Community,
please do so on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast,
or wherever you get your podcasts until our next episode.
I'm Robin Roberts and this is COVID nineteen Immunity in
Our Community. Thank you for listening. H
Popular Podcasts
1. Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
2. Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
3. Crime Junkie
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.