OAKWOOD VILLAGE, Ohio — “We have yet to see a real united and aggressive effort for the Black and Brown community to get vaccinated while delta is coming.”
Those are the words from Dr. Marvin McMickle, the chairman of the United Pastors in Mission. He joined several other faith leaders from Northeast Ohio who are calling “for a more focused and equitable campaign to encourage people of color to get vaccinated.”
That was the focus of a 10:30 a.m. press conference Tuesday at Mt. Zion Church in Oakwood Village.
“The clergy says that Black and Brown people in the area are in a state of emergency while being hesitant in getting vaccinated,” according to a press release from the United Pastors in Mission. “For the pastors, the surrounding institutions have not done enough and there exist now the fierce urgency of now.”
You can watch the full press conference in the player below:
They say the problem is not availability of vaccines, but the accessibility.
“Consequently, too little has been done in addressing the accessibility, the distrust, mistrust and misinformation believed by the vulnerable,” according to UPM’s press release.
The faith leaders say they believe more can be done for hard-to-reach communities and places known as “pharmacy deserts.”
“The need for more vaccinated is not a luxury, but a must,” their press release says.
Those included with the press conference include:
- Bishop Tony Minor, Community of Faith Church
- Rev. Dr. Larry L. Macon, Sr. President of UPM & Pastor Mt. Zion Oakwood Village
- Dr. C. Vincent Barry, Christian Fellowship Church Pastor
- Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, Pastor Emeritus Antioch Baptist Church
- Bishop Omar Medina, Westside Latino Community Bishop
- Rev. Dr. Rebecca Stitt, Pastor of St. Peter AME Church