Less than 15 percent of Newarkers have been vaccinated so far, that’s the word from Dr. Mark Wade, the city’s Director of Community Health and Wellness. He was one of the panelists for a community conversation about the COVID 19 vaccine hosted last night (April 21) by WBGO, The Newark News & Story Collaborative and the Free Press.
The event was moderated by WBGO afternoon news anchor/reporter and Newark Today producer Alexandra Hill.
Dr. Shereef Elnahal, CEO and President of University Hospital and Newark and Dr. Chris Pernell, a public health doctor and administrator at University Hospital in Newark, were also guest panelists.
Dr. Pernell gave an emotional response to why she got involved in the clinical vaccine trials.
"Last spring and last March the epicenter of this unprecedented public health crisis and pandemic landed on New Jersey and New York. It didn't only land on New Jersey, it landed on Newark. It landed on me. I lost my father to this pandemic. So, imagine I'm working in one hospital and four miles away my father is fighting for his life in another hospital. I can't physically see him. So, I needed a way to pay forward my father's legacy."
All the doctors last night agreed that there will most likely be a need for booster shots of each vaccine, but encouraged everyone to get vaccinated.
