It is no secret that Black people have a chequered history with medical innovation and experimentation. While there is no denying the myriads of Black people who have been pioneers in science and medicine; it is mostly the experience of Black people as the subjects of experimentation and investigation that are most notable. Even preceding the slave trade western ethnographers were doing their utmost to prove that Black people lacked souls or were sub-human. It is a testament to their genius that most of them concluded that Black people were in fact no more intelligent than forest beasts. You have J. Marion Sims who experimented on slaves, the Tuskegee syphilis experiments on Black men, and the forced sterilisation of Black women in the US, which lasted into modern times. So it is no surprise to find many people of colour highly apprehensive about taking a vaccine that has been hurriedly approved and is largely untested.
There may be elements of the covid-19 vaccine development process that arouse some concern. The vaccines will not be 100% safe for all people; and won’t be 100% effective in all cases. The vaccines have been tested on very small samples but have been found to be highly efficacious. Under normal circumstances that might not be enough but right in the middle of a global pandemic it is a lifeline to grasp and hold onto. The vaccines are designed to offer both protection and a reprieve from the disease for most people. For Black people this is what is most important right now. In a world where individually and systemically we are usually subjected to discrimination and oppression we need to protect ourselves, our families and our communities during this pandemic. Some of us cannot afford the luxury of working at home or staying at home to avoid infection. Unfortunately, too many Black people are not doing enough to protect themselves and the people around them. Wearing a face covering, social distancing or complying with infection prevention measures seem to be optional for too many of us. This means that in addition to our inherent deprivation we are also more at risk of infection and from serious illness due to covid-19.
Some people have expressed serious reservations about the vaccines and have indicated their intention to refuse to take it should they be offered. It is a matter of personal choice whether one wants to take the vaccine or not. However, there are vulnerable and elderly people who could be in serious jeopardy from covid-19 if they have no protection from the disease. For those people it is important to be more circumspect about fostering an atmosphere of fear about getting vaccinated. Instead of reinforcing conspiracy theories, misinformation and half truths people should encourage them to make a well informed choice. They can get vaccinated, avoid serious illness and stay out of hospital; or they can risk it all with dire consequences. This is not about doing what the government says or following the rules. It’s simply a matter of staying safe and protecting those around you.
