| Special to the USA TODAY Network
COVID-19 vaccine concerns: You Asked, We Answered
We asked you to tell us your biggest questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Here are some answers.
Another surge in COVID-19 cases is upending our nation, setting records for the number of new daily cases and a grim forecast that the worst is yet to come. This global enemy has claimed more than 284,000 Americans, including more than 17,000 in New Jersey. It has invaded every aspect of our lives. There’s no virus-free zone, not even the White House.
This pandemic has also laid bare a sad truth in America — health outcomes are too often tied to zip code. Throughout the COVID crisis, communities of color suffered disproportionately; they are three times more likely than their white counterparts to contract the virus and two times more likely to die from it. We must do better.
Thankfully, there is some good news: the breakneck pace to deliver a COVID vaccine is succeeding. Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca are reporting results that have significantly exceeded expectations and other drug makers are in the hunt, too. The Pfizer vaccine is expected in days.
There are two crucial goals we share for communities of color: we need to recruit more volunteers for the vaccine trials in a group that desperately needs the protection and we need to make sure these vaccines reach the community.
We want everyone to approach this like a team — we can handle adversity better as a group. We say this from the perspective of a CEO who leads a health care network that treated more COVID patients than any other in New Jersey and as a New York Giants legend, Pro Football Hall of Famer and leader in the black community who successfully battled COVID-19.
A vaccine or even wearing a mask for that matter isn’t just about individual health. We’re doing this for the betterment of the team. We have to work together and take care of everyone.
We know that a new Gallup poll shows that about 4 in 10 Americans say they will not or are not likely to get the vaccine. It’s even more pronounced in the black community, which is rooted in experiences with discrimination and systemic racism. The share of black people who say racial discrimination in health care is commonplace increased from 56% in 1999 to 70% now.
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The mistrust is forged in a shameful legacy. During the 1930s, hundreds of black men were recruited in what became known as the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, where doctors permitted the disease to progress without treatment.
A widely reported 2016 study found that black patients were routinely under-treated for pain compared to whites, in part because many white doctors believed in inaccurate differences between races. And sadly, black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white woman.
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we continue to work hard to recruit minority volunteers for our trials because it’s so important that research prevail for all communities. Expert physicians are meeting with clergy and other leaders in the black community to encourage participation. Additionally, we launched public service campaigns featuring icons in sports and entertainment urging all communities to get vaccinated.
We are proud that in our Moderna trial the majority of volunteers are minorities, well above the national average. We are ready to start recruiting 2,000 volunteers for the J&J trial and again taking a multi-targeted approach to encourage participation in communities of color.
Beyond the COVID crisis, there’s so much more we can do to erase these unacceptable gaps that result in African-Americans and Hispanics having higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic, debilitating and costly illnesses.
As a country, we have to intervene to build healthier communities. It’s about investing in prevention, which improves outcomes and keeps overall health care costs down.
There’s another factor that we have to tackle — we need a more diverse physician workforce. Studies show that there is greater trust between doctors and patients when they are the same race or ethnicity. Only 5% of physicians are African-American, even though African-Americans make up 13% of the population.
We have made it our mission to ensure that the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine graduates mirror the great diversity in our state. In our latest class, nearly 25% are black or Hispanic. A diverse physician workforce will get us closer to improving health outcomes for all communities.
Clearly, we have our work cut out for us to make high quality health care that’s convenient and affordable an option for all Americans, not just the privileged or the lucky. It will take teamwork. We know our chances of success are much better when we all work together.
Harry Carson is CEO of Harry Carson Inc., Chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, former New York Football Giants team captain and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Robert C. Garrett is CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest health network.
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