Ingham County’s Health Officer says they are working hard to address vaccine skepticism in communities of color.
According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, Black and Latinx folks are less inclined than any other racial group to be vaccinated for COVID-19. In Ingham County, it is not yet known how many people have declined to receive the vaccine.
Linda Vail is the Health Officer for the Ingham County Health Department. She says the skepticism from Black and Brown communities is appropriate.
“If they don't trust the medical system, or even a health department to be telling them, it's safe, it's effective, then you do have to find outreach mechanisms that basically do help you communicate with folks,” said Vail.
Vail says the department will be working with trusted members of these communities to help address some of the vaccine hesitancy people may have.