The age range for Oklahomans most affected by new cases of COVID-19 is between 18 and 35, but health experts remain cautiously optimistic because the state’s case count is trending down.“The numbers are looking better from a positivity perspective,” said Dr. David Kendrick, the CEO of My Health Access Network.“We can’t let up just because those numbers are coming down,” Dr. Jean Hausheer, the chair of the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition, added.The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Sooner State is declining, but positivity rates remain high.“Right at 20% positivity rate in communities without a masking policy and 15.3% positivity in communities with a masking policy,” Kendrick said.While the overall case count is slowing, experts say they’re seeing more new cases in school-aged kids.“Typically, when we see a rise in a population like that, a few weeks later we’ll see a rise in the parent-age adults as well as grandparent-age adults, eventually,” Kendrick sa
Black clergy offer churches as COVID-19 vaccination sites, roll up their sleeves
An Oklahoma church, whose name means ‘stone of help, is preparing to provide the second of the two-part vaccine. People line up for COVID-19 vaccinations outside Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, on Jan. 26, 2021. Photo by J. Wiggins for Concepts Productions/courtesy Ebenezer Baptist Church
January 29, 2021
(RNS) After more than 1,100 people received the coronavirus vaccine in the fellowship hall of a Black church in Oklahoma City, its pastor credited trust and teamwork for the accomplishment.
Organizers fell just 16 arms short of their goal as Pastor Derrick Scobey, the leader of Ebenezer Baptist Church, worked to make sure they could inoculate as many people as possible in the Black community where his church is located even when they had some no-shows.
The effort to get more Oklahomans a COVID-19 vaccine continued Wednesday, with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department saying they are trying to reach as many people as possible.
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"I'm not going to be a guinea pig."
Dr. Angela Hawkins heard this refrain more than a few times as she discussed the COVID-19 vaccine with her patients.
Hawkins said people of all races have made these remarks, but the majority of them were Black.
Such skepticism didn't surprise her at all.
As a member of the Oklahoma Alliance of Black Physicians, Hawkins is trying to educate Black communities about the safety of the vaccine in the hope that more individuals will get it at the first opportunity.
It's a message that is also being spread by state leaders like Sen. George Young and health agencies like the Oklahoma City-County Health Department.