Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: What You Need to Know About the COVID Vaccine

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The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists is hosting a comprehensive discussion on May 27 with two of America’s prominent medical practitioners and leaders of medical institutions. They will answer your questions about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, the U.S. legacy of mistrust in communities of color, if masks are still necessary, avoiding and surviving the virus and more. Read more and find the link below!

The panel will feature Dr. Herbert Smitherman Jr., who has been a physician in Detroit for 33 years. He was on the front lines of treating coronavirus patients every day, especially in the early days of the pandemic.

Dr. Smitherman is the Wayne State University Vice Dean of Diversity and Community Affairs and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine. He is also President and CEO of Health Centers Detroit Foundation. Dr. Smitherman has spent the past twenty-one years working with diverse communities in Detroit to develop urban-based primary-care delivery systems that integrate the health, social goals and concerns of the community. 

In addition, it will feature Dr. Reed Tuckson, a founding member of the Black Coalition Against COVID (BCAC). He is the Managing Director of Tuckson Health Connections, LLC, a health and medical care consulting business promoting optimal health outcomes through quality care delivery and optimization of data and analytics. He has served on several U.S. Government cabinet level health advisory committees. Dr. Tuckson believes in order to increase confidence in Black communities around the vaccine, the distrust needs to be addressed in other sectors too, such as the justice system.

The special guest speaker will be Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) 14th Congressional District and the Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She is a firm believer that the key to fighting vaccine hesitancy among African Americans is through education, accessibility, and awareness.

Detroit and Washington D.C. both share low numbers of vaccinated citizens. Join CBTU Detroit President Michael Joseph and CBTU D.C. President Shanna Peeks as they lead the discussion.

Zoom link (click and it will redirect you, even with the "..."): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86951731448...
Meeting ID: 869 5173 1448
Passcode: CBTUDM-PAW
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+13126266799,,86951731448#,,,,*5765045714# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,86951731448#,,,,*5765045714# US (New York)
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