>> Renee: EVEN AS MORE AND MORE KENTUCKIANS GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19, THERE IS STILL SOME HESITANCY.

WE TALK WITH THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES AND ENCOURAGING AND/OR ADMINISTERING VACCINES, ESPECIALLY IN THE THE HISPANIC AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

AS OF MID APRIL, ABOUT 50% OF KENTUCKY KENTUCKY ADULTS HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

VACCINATION RATES THOUGH FOR THE STATE'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAVE REMAINED LOW.

MARCH DATA FROM THE LEXINGTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT LESS THAN 3% OF LEXINGTON'S HISPANICS HAD BEEN VACCINATED.

THE LEXINGTON FAYETTE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TEAMED UP WITH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA OUTLETS TO FIGHT DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE IN HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.

WE SPOKE TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES ABOUT SOME OF THE ROOT FACTORS BEHIND VACCINE HESITANCY IN LEXINGTON'S HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.

GABRIELLA MARTINEZ TELLS US MORE.

>> WE ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IS THAT WE ARE PRETTY MUCH GOING AGAINST FACEBOOK RIGHT NOW.

>> HEALTH EDUCATOR AT THE LEXINGTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN POINT PEOPLE FOR VACCINE INFORMATION FOR LEXINGTON'S HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

>> PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LOT OF THEIR INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DOCTORS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, EXPERTS SAYING THINGS THAT GO AGAINST WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AND THEN ONE THING PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY ONLY IN SPANISH THROUGH THEIR PHONES IS WHERE THEY GET MOST OF THEIR INFORMATION.

AND ONE OF THE BATTLES WE ARE HAVING TO FIGHT IS LIKE THEY SEE THIS VIDEOS AND INFORMATION AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THEIR VACCINE AND THEY CANCEL IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS DONE, WE HAVE MADE SURE TO TRANSLATE ALL OUR INFORMATION IN SPANISH WHETHER IT'S OUR WEBSITE OR FLYERS SINCE THE BEGINNING.

WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD BILINGUAL STAFF WORKING IN CONTACT TRACING, IN LOGISTICS TO DO THE PART.

WE HAVE A LOT OF HISPANICS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

THEY'RE THE ONES WHO DO YOUR SERVICE INDUSTRY OR FACTORIES OR GROCERIES OR THE FOOD CHAIN AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY AFFECTING OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO STAY HOME AND TELEWORK AND THAT'S WHY WE SAW SUCH A BIG INCREASE OR DISPARITY IN THE CASES OF HISPANIC COMMUNITIES, 6 TO 7% OF THE POPULATION OF LEXINGTON BUT 28% OF ALL THE CASES.

THAT WAS BECAUSE THE TYPE OF JOB THAT THEY HAD.

>> DEE ANA IS ONE OF THE BILINGUAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT VOLUNTEERS HELPING VACCINATE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

>> I STARTED VOLUME VOLUNTEERING BECAUSE WHEN THE GOVERNOR PASSED THE EMERGENCY ALERT FOR EVERYBODY TO, IN THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY TO HELP OUT, I'M A DENTAL HYGIENIST, SO THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF DENTISTRY EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR THE HIGH GENERAL-- HYGIENISTS WHO CAN APPLIANCE THESIA TO APPLY TO VOLUNTEER.

I STARTED NOTICING THE BIG HELP THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY NEEDED.

WE MOVED NOT TOO LONG AGO WITH MY FAMILY FROM GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY WAS HERE IT WAS AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.

I WAS TOM CLINICIANS WHO COULD SPEAK SPANISH.

THEY HELPED WITH SOME INTERPRETERS BUT I'M GLAD I'M ABLE TO HELP MORE AND EASE THE MISCONCEPTIONS AND THE FEARS THAT SOME HISPANICS HAVE TOWARDS THE VACCINATION AND BE ABLE TO TELL THEM I GOT THE VACCINE, I'M ABLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

WE ARE IN A SAFE PLACE AND JUST PRED THE WORD.

WE HAVE A SIMPLE RULE.

WE DON'T ASK ABOUT STATUS OR IF YOU ARE HERE LEGALLY OR NOT.

ALL WE HAVE TOLD THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TOM THING WE NEED TO VERIFY IS THAT YOU LIVE IN FAYETTE COUNTY OW OR THAT YOU WORK IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

OTHER THAN THAT WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYBODY'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

WE DO THEM IF THEY HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE BUT IF THEY DON'T, THAT'S OKAY AND WE HAVE BEEN DISSEMINATING THAT ALMOST A MONTH AGO BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS, I DID AN INVIEW AND THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION THAT I GOT.

DO I NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED TO GET THE VACCINE A RESEARCH PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY'S COLLEGE OF NURSING RECRUITS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS KNOWN IN SPANISH AND TRAINS TO HELP IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LESS ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES.

THE RECENT PROGRAM ORIGINALLY CREATED TO REDUCE HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES RISK HAS BECOME A LIFELINE FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MARTIN SAYS THAT LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND FEAR ABOUT DISCLOSING IMMIGRATION STATUS ARE HURDLES IN THE VEEJ REGISTRATION PROCESS.

>> FILLING OUT THE FORMS LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IS ALSO A BARRIER IT TELLS YOU IN SPANISH TO GO HERE THEN WHEN YOU GO THERE THEN THERE IS OTHER FORMS AND THEN THERE ARE QUESTIONS ASKED, YOU KNOW LIKE THEY SAY PUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND PEOPLE GO AHEAD AND WHEN THEY SEE THAT, IF WE SEE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF SOME PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THEY GO AHEAD AND JUST GET OUT.

THEY DON'T FINISH FILLING OUT.

>> SHE SERVED WHEN SHE LIVED IN PERU IS CONTINUING HER WORK IN LEXINGTON AS A PART-TIME COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER THROUGH THE U.K.

PROGRAM.

(SPEAKING SPANISH) >> IF HAVE YOU HISPANIC FRIENDS THAT YOU KNOW ARE AFRAID TO COME FORWARD AND GET THE VACCINE, TELL THEM, LISTEN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ASKING FOR ANY TYPE OF STATUS.

IT'S FREE FOR EVERYONE IT IS NOT HARMFUL.

BUT THERE ARE SOME SIDE EFFECTS.

BUT I GOT VACCINATED OVER A MONTH AGO AND I WAS FINE THE WHOLE TIME.

BUT JUST TALK TO THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEY WILL AND IF YOU CAN HELP THEM OUT IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT BE GOOD IN ENGLISH, WE HAVE IT IN SPANISH.

IF THEY'RE NOT GOOD WITH THE INTERNET, THEY CAN CALL OUR HOT LINE 859-899 HF 2222.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK SPANISH THAT CAN HELP THEM WITH THE PROCESS.

>> TO GIVE US SOME GREATER PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW TO GET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OUT AND VACCINATED, WE ARE JOINED BY VICTOR PALOMINO WITH RADIO LEX AND HE DOES A LOT OF THE STATIONS SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING AND JOINS US NOW TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED HOW ARE YOU DOING, VICTOR.

>> DOING WELL, RENEE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING, WE BOTH HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND GOT OUR SECOND SHOTS.

WE BOTH HAD MODERNA.

I ASKED HOW YOU WERE DOING.

YOU DON'T HAVE A THIRD ARM ORING IN LIKE THAT.

>> IT IS A GOOD FEELING KNOWING THAT I HAVE THE VACCINE AND CAN I MAKE AN EXAMPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

TOM THING WAS LIKE ONE DAY WHERE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BILLS AND FELT A LITTLE SICK BUT IT WAS A DAY THAT I NEEDED TO REST AND AFTER THAT, I GOT MY ENERGY TACK AND BACK TO WORK AND DOING WHAT WE DO.

>> Renee: ISN'T IT LIKE A RELIEF.

YOU FEEL EMOTIONAL, OKAY, I'M NOTE JUST PROTECTING MYSELF, I'M PROTECTING MY COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

>> AND OPENING THE DOOR FOR PEOPLE THAT MAYBE HAVE QUESTIONS OR MAYBE THAT ARE AAFRAID TO TAKE THE VACCINE THAT I TELL THEM MY EXPERIENCES I TOOK THE FIRST SHOT, THIS HAPPENED I'M TAKING THE SECOND SHOT IT'S SOMETHING AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO DO IT SOMETIMES, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT ON THE MARGINS OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ON THE MARGINS OF WHEN THINGS HAPPENED SO IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP AND SAY WE ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE MAKING OUR PART.

>> Renee: ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD IN THE PIECE THAT PRECEDED YOU IS THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE GETTING SO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY VERIFIABLE TRUTH, RIGHT?

AND SO, BECAUSE YOU ARE LISTENING AND WATCHING AND READING EVERYTHING PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND MAY NOT BE RELYING ON THE TRUE SCIENCE.

DO YOU RUN ACROSS THAT, THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY MAYBE GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA RATHER THAN THROUGH RELIABLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

>> THAT HAPPENS A LOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SPEAK A LANGUAGE DIFFERENT THAN ENGLISH, YOU WANT TO HAVE THE INFORMATION IN YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE.

THAT'S THE ONE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE.

YOU THINK AND DREAM IN THAT LANGUAGE SO WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GOING TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDS OR START HEARING THINGS LIKE YOU SAY, NOT OFFICIAL AND IT CAN TAKE THEM IN TOO MANY DIRECTIONS.

NOT ONLY RADIO LEX BUT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE GETTING TOGETHER TO TRY TO SEND A MESSAGE FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE KNOW MORE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES OR IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY COME FROM THAN WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING HERE SO IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE ALL THESE PANDEMIC TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO EVERYBODY.

SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH MOMENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, SOMETIMES WE FORGET MOST OF THE INFORMATION IS DELIVERED IN ENGLISH.

WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE MORE EFFORT THAN TO REACH OUT AND GET THE INFORMATION DELIVERED TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT SPEAKS OUR LANGUAGE.

>> Renee: AND TO THE QUESTION ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, AT THE TIME WE RECORDED THIS INTERVIEW ON THE HEELS OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PAUSE BY THE IF EFFORT TO JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, TO LEARN ABOUT THE SIX CASES OF SEVERE BLOOD CLOTS, ONE THAT LED TO DEATH, BEFORE THEY RESUME.

DO YOU FIND THAT'S GOING TO BE A FURTHER BARRIER BECAUSE IF THEY WERE HESITANT AND ON THE FENCE, JUS LIKE THAT CAN BE PRETTY JARRING.

>> YES, AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TRYING TO GET A PANEL OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT, WHY THE VACCINES ARE BEING STOPPED WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.

EXPLAINING EVERYTHING VERY DETAILS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS THAT IS NOT REAL GETS SPREAD EASIER AND FASTER AND PEOPLE LIKE TO CLICK THAT AND THE ALGORITHMS.

SO IT'S HARD TO REACH OUT AND IF THEY WERE ALREADY AFRAID OF GETTING THE VACCINE FOR WHATEVER REASON, NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS AND EVEN MORE AFRAID OF GETTING THE VACCINE SO IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN FIGHT THAT IS THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITIES, LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE FAMILIAR FACES THAT THEY KNOW AND SHOWING THEM, GETTING THE VACCINE OR SHOWING GO WITH THEM TO PUBLIC AREA LIKE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, WORD OF MOUTH IS VERY BIG.

SOMETIMES YOU TRUST YOUR NEIGHBOR OR FRIENDS OR FAMILY ARE SAWING SO IF WE CAN GET ONE PERSON FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT IS TRUSTED BY THE COMMUNITY TO DELIVER THAT INFORMATION, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US TO GET OVER ALL THE FALSE INFORMATION ONLINE.

>> Renee: HAVING THE AMBASSADORS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEND TO PERHAPS NOT THE PRIMARY NATIVE LANGUAGE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE VACCINE AND IF THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND IF THEY'RE CONCERNED IF THEY'RE NOT DOCUMENTED WE HEARD THAT DOESN'T MATTER.

NOBODY IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

>> THAT'S I A BIG POINT.

IF YOU ARE UNDOCUMENTED, YOU TRY TO BE UNDER THE RADAR THE MESSAGE I HAVE FOR THEM IS DON'T BE AFRAID.

ASK QUESTIONS, GO TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, GLOBAL LEX HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE ARE AGENCIES HELPING IN YOUR LANGUAGE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK AND IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE VACCINE, TELL YOUR FRIENDS TELL YOUR FAMILY AND NETWORK WE ARE ALL PART OF KENTUCKY IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH DIVERSITY AND WE NEED TO SHOW THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE BELONG, WE ARE PART OF THIS AND WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT TOGETHER AS A UNIT.

>> Renee: RIFN TO RADIO LEX BECAUSE YOU'LL GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY NEED AND TELL THEM WHERE TO GO.

>> LISTEN TO RADIO LEX.

WE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY RADIO.

WE WANT TO BE THE VOICE OF LEXINGTON AND WE HAVE INFORMATION IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

SO IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S UPDATES, WE DO THAT IN AT LEAST 10 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND THE SPANISH STATION 98.AT NOON YOU CAN HEAR A SUMMARY OF THE GOVERNOR'S BRIEFINGS EVERY DAY AT NOON.

>> Renee: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

>> AND GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

>> Renee: I HAVE BEEN TO THE WEBSITE AND ALL THE INFORMATIONINGS THERE.

>> YOU CAN SELECT THE LANGUAGE AND EVERYTHING.

TRY TO BE DIVERSE.

YOU CANNOT THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY IN JUST ONE LANGUAGE.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN LEXINGTON AND EVEN I KNOW IT REACHES BEYOND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL GREAT WORK.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> STAY WITH US AS WE TALK MORE ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, PARTICULARLY THOUGH IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

VIVIAN LASLEY-BIBBS CHAIRS THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY JOINS US NEXT.

JOINING US NOW IS VIVIAN LASLEY-BIBBS.

SHE HAS BEEN ON THIS PROGRAM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.

SHE IS A HEALTH EQUITY CHAMPION, REALLY ACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY TRYING TO HELP BRIDGE THE DISPARATE FACTS AND FIGURES WE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND COVID IS NO EXCEPTION.

WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT HOW GETTING MORE OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND GETTING THEIR VACCINATIONS AND WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING.

BUT AS CHAIR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY BOARD, HAVE YOU SEVERAL HATS BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT YOU ARE USING TODAY.

YOU ARE REALLY ACTIVE IN HELPING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HEALTH DISPARITY WHICH YOU HAVE DONE FOR A LONG TIME BUT AS IT RELATES TO COVID.

WHY IS IT EXAS EXACERBATED WITH R OR IS COVID JUST REVEALING IT.

>> YOU YOU RIP THE BAND-AID OFF AND SAY I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT WAS UNDER THERE AND WHAT HAD BEEN FESTERING AND I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT AS AN ONION WE STARTED PEELING BACK THE LAYIERS AND FOUND OUT THAT COVID SHOWED NOT ONLY ARE WE HAVING THE HEALTH DISPARITIES BUT WITH COVID ON TOP OF THAT AND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COVID IMPOSED ON US STAYING AT HOME, THE CHILDREN STAYING AT HOME, US NOT WORKING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE FAMILY FIED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, RIGHT.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE SYSTEMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS THAT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE WERE EXACERBATED BY COVID I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT THE FOUNDATION WITH HEALTH EQUITY AS PART OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WE'VE REALLY BEEN VIGILANT ABOUT FINDING OUT HOW WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONSCIOUS IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE GOOD NEWS IS AS THE CASES HAVE STARTED TO DECLINE, THE DISPARITY BETWEEN THE CASES AND THE REPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ALMOST ALIGNED.

THAT WE ARE STARTING TO MAKE MORE SENSE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SHOW.

WHAT IS THE HESITANCY OF VACCINATIONS IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY?

IS THAT STILL ABISSUE AT THAT POINT.

>> IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE EARLY ON BUT AS MORE CONVERSATIONS ARE HELD, MORE INFORMATION FACTUAL INFORMATION TO GET OUT, THE MYTHS AND AND MISCONCEPTIONS BEING DEBUNKED, THE VACCINE HESITANCY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TO ME WAS NEVER THE DRIVER.

TO ME IT WAS THE SYSTEMIC THINGS, THE RACISM OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, ACCESS TO THE VIRUS ITSELF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES TO GET TO A SITE TO GET THE VACCINE OR TO GET TESTED.

>> Renee: OR EVEN TO SIGN UP.

>> THERE YOU GO.

WE HAVE SOME LITERACY ISSUES THERE RELATING TO COMPUTER ACCESS, USE, BROOND AND INTERNET.

I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT CHEAP AND NOT EVERY HOME HAS THAT AND WE SEEM TO THINK THAT EVERYBODY HAS A CELL PHONE.

EVERYBODY HAS A COMPUTER EVERYBODY HAS AN iPAD.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE IN SOME OF OUR REALLY IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES.

ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION WERE SOME OF THE KEY FACTORS THAT WAS BEING HIDDEN UNDER THE VACCINE HESITANCY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES IF YOU SAY VACCINE HESITANCY.

>> Renee: THAT IT IS JUST ALMOST LIKE AN EXCUSE.

OR A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION OR YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE HAD WITH THE TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT.

WE HER ABOUT THAT AND A LOT OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICANS CHURCH HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE AND INVOLVED FROM TESTING TO VACCINATION MY OWN CHURCH, WHICH I'M A MEMBER OF THERE WAS A CLINIC HELD WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

WE AWE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND DO YOU THINK THAT HELPED WHEN YOU HAD LOCAL MINISTERS AND CLERGY AND EVEN PEW BUDDIES, IF PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO CHURCH GETTING THEIR VACCINATIONS.

>> WHO DO WE LOOK TO FOR OUR ADVICE AND INFORMATION BECAUSE WE KNOW IF THE PASTOR SAYS IT, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

IT'S DONE, RIGHT.

>> >> Renee: RIGHT.

>> IT WAS BENEFICIAL, IT WAS HELPFUL.

THE THING I'M GLAD TO SEE IS THAT IT DIDN'T STOP THERE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE RELY ON THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY TO DO EVERYTHING FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND I'M GLAD THAT WAS JUST ONE PIECE.

NOW WE HAVE OTHER FOLKS STEPPING UP TO THE PLACE WE HAVE THE URBAN LEAGUE AND NAACP.

SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES, WE'VE GOT THE LINKS, WE'VE GOT OTHER PEOPLE LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE INVOLVED?

THAT'S WHAT I'M GLAD TO SEE BECAUSE EARLY ON WHEN I STARTED TALKING ABOUT HEALTH DISPARITIES, EVERYBODY WENT TO THE CHURCH.

IF WE JUST GET THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, ALL OF THE DISPARITIES THEY'LL ADDRESS THOSE AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

>> Renee: I REMEMBER THAT.

>> EVERYBODY WENT TO THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY.

LET'S GO TO THE BLACK CHURCH, LET'S GO TO THE BROWN CHURCHES.

>> Renee: AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T GO TO THOSE CHURCH.

YOU ARE LEAVING OUT A BIG PORTION OF THE POPULATION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: SO WITH ALL THE NEWS AT THE TIME WE RECORD RECORDED THIS, A FEW DAYS AFTER THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON ISSUE WHERE THEY HAD PULLED THAT, PUT A PAUSE ON IT TEMPORARILY.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT WILL WORSEN, WE'LL CALL IT VACCINE HESITANCY FOR PEOPLE?

WHO ARE DO YOU THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER CHOICES, TWO OTHER CHOICES.

>> EXACTLY.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE THE OTHER CHOICES.

THE ONE THING I REALLY WANTED, THAT PEOPLE ASKED ME, TO REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS A VERY RARE EVENT.

THE CHANCES OF SIX PEOPLE OUT OF SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE ONE DEATH, TO ME YOU HAVE MORE SIDE EFFECTS BAKING A PRECIPITATION THAT YOUR DOCTOR WOULD GIVE YOU FOR SOMETHING LIKE DIABETES OR, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BUT WE HEARD THAT AND THE MEDIA FLASHED THAT AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT OUT, WE WERE LOOKING FOR, THERE IT IS, I KNEW IT.

I WAS JUST WAITING ON IT.

I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, I DO THINK PEOPLE AS WE SIGHT IT COME BACK BY THE END OF THE WEEK I THINK THEY'RE SAYING IT WILL BE BACK USING J & J I THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE OPEN TO RECEIVING THAT ONE DOSE.

>> Renee: ONE AND DONE.

I STILL THAT IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS I DO THINK PEOPLE ARE GLAD THAT THEY HAVE THE CHOICE OF MODERNA OR PFIZER CURRENTLY.

I THINK PEOPLE I'M GLAD I HAVE A CHOICE WE ALL LIKE TO KNOW THAT BUT I DO THINK FOR OUR HOME BOUND, FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T GET OUT, THE J & J IS LOGISTICALLY THE VACCINE THAT SHOULD BE USED.

>> Renee: SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, ALL OF THAT, THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THAT AND THEY WERE STILL TRYING TO PROOF THERE WAS A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH THE WOMEN IT IS INTERESTING IT WAS WOMEN.

SO THERE ARE STILL SOME QUESTIONS.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS.

I TOOK MY VACCINE.

I STEPPED OUT ON FAITH AND SAID I'M GOING TO DO THIS FOR ME AND MY COMMUNITY, FOR MY FAMILY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS, IF ANY, WILL BE BUT I KNEW WHAT I HAD TO DO.

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

>> Renee: AND YOUR COMMUNITY, TOO, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO AS WE LOOK AHEAD AND WE HAVE HEARD THAT, WELL YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE A BOOSTER IN THE FALL OR WHENEVER AFTER A PERIOD OF SO MANY MONTHS JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A FLU VACCINE.

IT MAY BECOME AN ANNUAL THING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT, I COULD GET THE J & J THOUGHT AND I WAS GOOD FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING RECURRING AND IT IS NOT TO BE FEARED.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT THE SAME THING YOU SAID WITH THE FLU VACCINE.

THAT'S SOMETHING I DO.

I DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

I DO IT EVERY YEAR.

AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND WE LOOK AT VACCINE DEVELOPMENT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE, I'M HOPING THAT BECOMES JUST AS NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT AS YOU DO THE FLU SHOT, IT BECOMES NORMALIZED.

JUST SOMETHING WE DO I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE WON'T BE PREP DAYS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T GET THE FLU SHOT.

OUR FLU NUMBERS ARE STILL NOT THE BEST BUT WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER IS THAT IF THIS BECOMES SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO LONG-TERM STILL REMEMBER WHAT WAS LOST REMEMBER WHAT WAS LOST AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND IF THAT'S GOING TO SAVE LIVES, THATth WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WHERE IS THE EMPATHY AND COMPASSION?

WE HAVE LOST THAT SO I STILL THINK ABOUT, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CO-WORKERS, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO ON AND ON $AND WE THINK ABOUT THE VAIR VARIANTS AND YOU KNOW BETTER THAN I, HOW VIRUSES WANT AND DESIRE TO MUTATE.

THEY WANT TO FIND NEW PLACES TO HARBOR AND HARVEST AND SPREAD.

AND SO WOULD IT BE IMPORTANT AS WE GO ALONG TO PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST THESE EMERGING VARIANTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOUR OUTCOME IS MUCH MORE IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED AND YOU GET A VARIANT STRAIN OR YOU HAVE THE VIRUS VERSUS THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

WE HAVE A LEVEL OF PROTECTION AND WOULD I RATHER HAVE THAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION TO DECREASE MY RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH THAN TO NOT.

>> AND SO AS WE GET READY TO CLOSE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, I'M FULLY VACCINATED AS WELL.

WE STILL NEED TO PRACTICE OUR MITIGATION MEASURES, CORRECTED?

>> YES.

>> STILL WEAR YOUR MASK, SOCIAL DISTANCING, MORE THAN SIX FEET APART.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT UNTIL WHEN.

>> UNTIL WE REACH HERD IMMUNITY, UNTIL WE REACH THAT 75 TO 80% OF OUR POPULATION BEING PROTECTED, UNTIL WE REACH THAT NUMBER, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS BECAUSE IT'S STILL A MOVING TARGET, RIGHT?

WE STILL NEED TO BE VIGILANT.

WE STILL NEED TO PRACTICE THOSE THINGS AND I'M NOT SURE WE WILL EVER GO BACK TO GIVING THE KISSES AND HUGSES THAT WE USE TO.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE THINK ABOUT FROM NOW ON.

AS WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

>> Renee: POT LUCKS,.

>> AND THE BUFFETS AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE USED TO TALK FOR GRANTED OR WE USED TO SAY THAT THEY WILL BE AROUND FOREVER MAY NOT BE.

THEY MAY NOT BE.

>> Renee: VIVIAN GAVE ME A GREAT FUTURE EPISODE.

WE TALK ABOUT THE WORLD AFTER COVID AND HOW PARTICULARLY IT EFFECTS DISPARATE COMMUNITIES.

LOOK FOR THAT.

SHE WILL BE ON TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US FOR A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE.

I APPRECIATE ALL YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS EDITION OF CONNECTIONS WITH WE TALKED ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY AND HOW THIS DISEASE HAS EFFECT AFFECTED THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.

THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.