Black public figures have worked to encourage the black community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ethical violations of previous American clinical trials, including the infamous “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in Black Men”, evidence of systematic racism in the healthcare system, waves of disinformation being launched on Twitter and Clubhouse, and the speed with which multiple The vaccine options that were introduced in the market generated a deep distrust of some members of the African American community.
These reluctant participants have become targets of outreach efforts by medical organizations seeking to fight the current pandemic, and some celebrities have taken action to help spread awareness. Former President Barack Obama even offered to publicly receive his dose to ease fears about possible side effects.
“I may end up showing on TV or filming, just to let people know that I trust this science, and what I don’t trust is getting COVID,” he told SiriusXM.
During his first term as commander in chief, Obama previously did the same to defend the H1N1 vaccine at the height of the swine flu pandemic. Other politicians, former professional athletes, television personalities and news anchors have done the same, offering to publicly receive doses of the vaccine to ensure their safety for the public. Find out who came up to the plate below.
01
Kamala Harris
The vice president publicly received a dose of the vaccine with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. She described the experience as “painless” for reporters at the scene and said, “I want to ask everyone to get the vaccine when it’s their turn.”
02
Hank Aaron
The Hall of Fame went to an HBCU to be vaccinated publicly and encouraged others to do the same. “I am proud to receive the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today at Morehouse School of Medicine,” he tweeted on January 5. “I hope you do the same!” Unfortunately, baseball’s Hall of Fame died in the sleep of natural causes 16 days later.
03
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The six-time NBA champion began calling on professional athletes to raise awareness of the vaccine shortly after receiving his injection.
04
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson received his first “injection” of the vaccine at The Forum in Inglewood on January 24. The California governor moved the state to phase 1b of the vaccine launch, allowing people 65 years of age or older to receive the vaccine.
(Photo by Paras Griffin / Getty Images for roadside attractions)
05
Al Roker
The 66-year-old journalist and meteorologist was vaccinated live in The Today Show January 19th.
06
Damon Kimes
Kimes is one of many health professionals who use their bodies as living examples of the power of vaccines.
07
Tyler Perry
Movie tycoon Tyler Perry was asked to get the vaccine to encourage others to do the same. He admitted that he understood others’ reluctance to get the photo on CBS This Morning, saying: “If you look at our history in this country, Tuskegee’s experiment, Henrietta Lacks, raises flags for us as African Americans. So I understand why there is a healthy skepticism about the vaccine. ”
08
Stephanie Elam
CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam has been telling her experience as part of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine test since she joined the group in late 2020.
To edit These black celebrities said yes to the COVID-19 vaccine