© 2024 WBGO
Discover Jazz...Anywhere, Anytime, on Any Device.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Newark News and Story Collaborative, WBGO and Free Press host Vaccine Q & A Panel

Screen shot of the VACCINE Q & A community Zoom panel discussion on April 21, 2021
Doug Doyle/Zoom
Screen shot of the VACCINE Q & A community Zoom panel discussion on April 21, 2021

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.

WBGO's Alexandra Hill moderated the VACCINE Q & A community event
WBGO
WBGO's Alexandra Hill moderated the VACCINE Q & A community event

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.

Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. Doug and his staff have received more than 250 awards from organizations like PRNDI (now PMJA), AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.
Alexandra Hill began her work with WBGO in June of 2012 in the news department. A graduate of the Rutgers Newark journalism program, Alexandra was also a student of WBGO News Director Doug Doyle. Alexandra has since become the lead general assignment reporter, afternoon news anchor, and producer of the award winning live call in show Newark Today. Since working for WBGO Alexandra has covered politics in and around Newark including the 2014 mayoral campaign of Mayor Ras Baraka as well as the senate campaigns of former Newark Mayor and now U.S. Senator Cory Booker in both 2013 and 2014. Alexandra also covers a host of human-interest stories, and has been recognized by the New York Association Of Black Journalists for her piece entitled Sheltering Newark’s Homeless.