Pittsburgh Gets Real

Will there be more COVID-19 vaccine skepticism from Black community after Johnson & Johnson pause?

PITTSBURGH — Long before the pandemic began, Black and brown communities in many places faced barriers to adequate health care. Could there be growing skepticism after state and federal officials called for pausing Johnson & Johnson vaccines?

“We know that in Black and brown communities, the risk of COVID-19 was higher. We also know the risk of death is higher,” said Dr. Tracey Conti.

Conti is a member of the Black Equity Coalition. It was formed from predominantly Black doctors, public health researchers and elected officials in response to the pandemic.

The group recently put out a report highlighting the racial disparity in the vaccine rollout. In Allegheny County, 86% of the county’s white population has been vaccinated whereas less than 9% of the Black population got the vaccine. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the county is nearly 80% white and just over 13% Black. Despite that, doctors are worried.

“My concern is once this pause is over and Johnson & Johnson is back on the market, there has to be a transparent education about the side effects, the risks,” Conti said.

She said there is hope as she’s seeing more appointments being filled in the Black and brown community.