CHARLOTTE — A major concern is that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available not everyone will get it.
Studies show that minorities, who have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, have a long history of mistrust when it comes to vaccines.
A study on syphilis by the Tuskegee Institute in the 1930s included hundreds of Black men without their consent or knowledge, according to the CDC. About two-thirds had syphilis, and the others did not. They did not get the proper treatment to cure syphilis for 40 years.
“I know what has happened,” said Dr. Grace Byfield, a scientist with North Carolina A&T University.
[COVID-19 in the Carolinas: NC hospitalizations top 2,000 for first time since pandemic began]
She heads a program that has done what few have been able to do across the county, which is to get African Americans to participate in scientific studies.
“I understand, and here is what we want to do different,” Byfield said.
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Byfield is willing to lead by example when it comes to this pandemic.
“I trust the scientists being a scientist myself,” she said. “I trust scientists. I think they take every precaution necessary. I don’t think they cut corners, and absolutely I’d be willing to take the vaccine.”
Researchers at N.C. A&T said that mistrust can be overcome. That outreach could take months and should start now, researchers said.
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