The nation鈥檚 top infectious disease expert addressed concerns among Black and Brown communities that COVID-19 vaccines will cause more harm than good.
Speaking at a 鈥淔acts and Faiths Fridays鈥� weekly virtual event hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University鈥檚 Massey Cancer Center, Dr. Anthony Fauci said people of color face a 鈥渄ouble whammy鈥� of increased risk without the protection the vaccine provides.
鈥淲e want you all to get vaccinated,鈥� Fauci told participants who included Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, other medical experts and faith leaders.
During a slideshow presentation, Fauci pointed to data that shows Black and Brown people are at higher risk of coming down with the virus because of 鈥渢he binary nature鈥� of disparities that include 鈥渋ncreased incidence鈥� and a predisposition to severe disease.
Fauci noted more specifics that put those communities at risk, such as occupations that cannot be performed at home and living conditions that can lead to greater spread.
鈥淚t often puts them in a position to have to interact outside in the community in a person-to-person way, which leads to the spread,” he said.
Fauci also tackled the deep mistrust that community members have with the government concerning 鈥渦nfair and unethical鈥� medical treatment in the past.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the past, a shameful past, that we have to live with, but we have safeguards in place that will never let that happen again,鈥� Fauci said.
Fauci added to reassurances by saying the vaccination research and approval process is 鈥渂oth independent and transparent鈥� conducted by 鈥渃areer scientists, not politicians鈥� with the National Institutes of Health鈥檚 Data and Safety Monitoring Board.
As far as achieving overall 鈥済ood herd immunity鈥� with continued vaccinations, Fauci said the country would need 鈥�75 to 80%鈥� of the population inoculated which would 鈥渃ompletely crush鈥� the virus 鈥渓ikely by the end of the year.鈥�
But, Fauci says, 鈥渢hat鈥檚 a big 鈥榠f.鈥欌��
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