U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams on Monday expressed concern about the vaccine suspicion among minority communities, but is helping to overcome it.
“For the past several weeks to months there has been nothing in my heart other than this issue,” Adams told CNN. “I’m working with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson to make sure minorities are registered for these vaccine trials so people can understand that they are safe.”
Adams said he works with minority community leaders, faith leaders and fraternity organizations and psoriasis.
“Every year tens of thousands of black and brown people die because they are distrustful of the system and are right in many cases, but they do not get the facts to help restore their confidence in the system.”
Adams said he was saddened to see an increase in the number of Americans who say the vaccine is available when it is available. That number is close to 80% today, up from 30% four weeks ago.
History behind the pessimism: Adams stressed that there are now independent review boards and regulations to protect against incidents such as the Dusky test.
Between 1932 and 1972, black men were deliberately left untreated in the Dusky Syphilis study, so doctors could read the “natural course” of the disease, which could damage organs including the brain, other nerves, eyes and heart as they progress.