GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Calling it a way to open up a conversation with the Black community in Grand Rapids, a virtual community forum brought together health leaders and community members focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our goal is to have this two-way conversation, giving an opportunity for Black people in particular to ask questions, as we have seen the rates of COVID-19 impact the African American community at higher rates than others,” said Dr. Walter Brame, a member of the collaborative and moderator of the event.
The Black Impact Collaborative hosted the forum Wednesday evening, Dec. 9, on the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on the Black community and ongoing local vaccine trials.
The forum, which included a Q&A session at the end, featured several local health leaders to talk on COVID-19 stats and vaccine distribution in the county, abuses Black people have suffered in medical trials of the past and the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine trial recruitment by Cherry Health in Grand Rapids.
Teresa Branson, deputy administrative health officer at the Kent County Health Department, presented data showing significant decreases since July of the disproportionate rate of coronavirus infection on the Black and Latino communities in the county.
In April and March, about 19% of all new positive cases were among the Black community and another 39% to 45.9% were among the category of “other race,” which presenters said is primarily representative of the Latino population.
In November, about 5.6% of all new cases were among the Black community and 10.8% among the “other race” category, according to the data presented Wednesday.
Although the infection rates are going down, mortality rates have disproportionately impacted the Black community.
Dr. Surrender Rajasekaran, medical director of research at Spectrum Health, presented nationwide data from September 2020 showing that Black people at the time were dying at twice the rate of white people. Indigengious and Latino people, as well as Pacific Islanders, also had higher mortality rates than white people.
A significant portion of the forum was dedicated to talking about the ongoing Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson’s Phase 3 clinical vaccine trial that Cherry Health in Grand Rapids has been recruiting volunteers for.
Related: Grand Rapids clinic recruiting for COVID-19 vaccine trials
Officials talked about the importance of needing a diverse group of volunteers in vaccine clinical trials, as it helps ensure a safe and effective vaccine.
“One of the most important recognitions that we’ve had over the last decade or so is that diseases, and indeed medications and vaccines, can impact people differently, depending on your race, your gender, your ethnicity, your age,” said Dr. Rick Nettles, vice president of medical affairs at Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
“It’s really important that in those Phase 3 clinical trials you have a very diverse population so that you can be sure by the time you have licensure of a vaccine or a medicine that the product will be safe and effective, regardless of your race, ethnicity or gender or age.”
There are currently two COVID-19 vaccines awaiting approval in the United States. The vaccine from Janssen Pharmaceuticals is still in the trial phase.
More information about the local Janssen Pharmaceuticals vaccine trial and how to participate can be found here.
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