BOSTON (WBZ News Radio) – Governor Charlie Baker spoke from Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan on Monday, stressing his commitment to convincing communities of color to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We recognize there’s a hesitancy around the vaccine, and much of this hesitancy is born of generations of systemic racism and disproportionate access to quality medical care in Black and brown communities,” Baker said during the press conference.
Baker said having community based institutions like Morning Star Baptist Church urging their members to get vaccinated would go a long way towards convincing people in those communities to trust the vaccine.
Morning Star Baptist started distributing the vaccine last month. It’s partnered up with Boston Medical Center and Mattapan Community Health Center to distribute the doses.
“Black and brown men in particular, they’re looking for trusted individuals to lead by example. So there are many doctors, clergy…constantly speaking about the vaccination process, constantly taking the vaccine,” said the church’s Senior Pastor, Bishop John M. Borders III.
WBZ’s Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports:
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