CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Some African Americans say they are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But why? According to a study, some said they still bear the psychological scars of the Tuskegee Syphilis study that began in the 1930s and lasted through the 1970s.
A new report says many African Americans are hesitant to get vaccinated, especially those who are more than 50 years old and or from black and LatinX communities. Louise Davis of Corpus Christi says that includes her.
“It would have to be out there for some years before I would consider taking it because I’m just going to do the healthy thing,” Davis said.
Davis said growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, her family did not get sick because they ate so many fresh foods.
“It wasn’t not going to the doctor or none of that," she said. "We ate fresh vegetables. It wasn’t none of this here stuff that they have now with all of this preservatives, it wasn’t none of that."
According to the Pew Research Center, 32% of Black adults say they would definitely or probably take a COVID-19 vaccine.
NAACP Corpus Christi President Terry Mills said we do not know everything about COVID-19 and it's still in the early stages.
“Anything can go wrong," Mills said. "It needs to go through a period of years and years and years of research and more research."
Mills said it's everyone's personal choice whether they want to get the COVID-19 vaccine or even the flu shot.
Another important factor is the cost of getting everyone in the family vaccinated adds up.
One thing Mills encourages the community to do is to continue with their health checkups and to take advantage of the free health resources.
"If there is something that is going on like a free health clinic, go to that health clinic, take advantage of the items and stuff that is there,” he said.
The NAACP will provide a free COVID-19 testing health clinic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the American Bank Center parking lot. No Social Security number is required and results will be provided within 36-48 hours.