Boston group puts up billboard encouraging minority coronavirus vaccinations

The Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition has put up a billboard in Grove Hall urging people of color to get their coronavirus vaccine shots as the organization plans on “taking it to the streets” this summer with a continued public awareness campaign — and a mobile vaccine clinic.

The billboard, at the corner of Blue Hill Avenue and Washington Street in the heavily minority area, shows five people of color getting vaccinated, with the words “I got the vax! Stop COVID-19 and protect our people.”

“This is to help people understand that this vaccine can help save lives,” Acting Mayor Kim Janey said in a press conference in front of the billboard. “Quite frankly, that is the bottom line — we can choose vaccine and life. Or we can risk getting COVID.”

Janey, who’s running for a full term as elected mayor, is one of the people pictured on the billboard getting a shot. The billboard is put up by the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition, an organization led by Janey ally former state Sen. Diane Wilkerson that has focused on getting Black people and other people of color vaccinated over the past few months.

The press conference took place also in front of a bus decked out with the same message as the billboard. Wilkerson said doctors from the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center will be aboard as the organization works on “taking it to the streets,” able to give each of any of the three coronavirus vaccines that are authorized for use in the United States.

Wilkerson also talked about giving out various incentives, like movie passes or gift cards, to try to attract young people to the bus, which will head to various neighborhoods around the city.

Vaccination rates for people of color lag behind those of white people.

“We have to keep the pressure up,” the Rev. Liz Walker said. “We have to tell our neighbors why they have to get this — not because of any other reason other than we love them. And because I love you, I want you to be around.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/35bHBZ1