New York Governor Andrew Cuomo assured this Sunday that he will not get the coronavirus vaccine until members of minority communities in the same age group have access to it to ensure it is evenly distributed.
“I am committed to social and racial justice in the distribution of this vaccineCuomo said in a video message from Sunday at a mass at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Race or income will not determine who lives or dies. And I mean it, ”he insisted.
“I travel a lot and interact with a lot of people and I would feel a lot safer if I got vaccinated, but I’m not going to get the vaccine until it’s available to people in my group in black, Hispanic and poor communities in New York.” added.
In his speech, the governor emphasized that Covid-19 “has exposed many existing injustices in our society,” such as “health and health inequalities. how many communities do not have fair access to health care“while recalling that in the US, the coronavirus has killed twice as many black citizens as whites, and one and a half times more Hispanics.
He also explained that coronavirus testing was more available in white and wealthy communities, despite the infection rate being higher in black, Hispanic and poor areas.
For this reason, the state has formed a special group to ensure the same doesn’t happen with the vaccine, and has announced mobile units that will travel to public housing complexes, churches and community centers across New York.
Until the vaccine is available in the South Bronx, East Buffalo and Wyandanch, and South Jamaica, and Edgerton and East Utica, our health deserts, our work is not finished yet, ”said Cuomo, who also urged citizens to get vaccinated.
“I’ll do my part, but you must do yours,” he added.