Miami Gardens COVID-19 vaccination heart goals to curb hesitation within the African American group – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – This is how residents of the new COVID = 19 vaccination center at Brentwood Pool in Miami Gardens feel at home.

The city of Miami Gardens has partnered with WorldSafe1st, a black-owned medical group from Delaware made up of black doctors and nurses. Their goal is to curb vaccine reluctance in the African American community.

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“We know the African Americans hesitated. We are the third largest African American city in the country and the largest in the state of Florida. We wanted to bring out a group that looks like us, understands our hesitation and is able to talk about these issues, ”said Reggie Leon, Vice Mayor of Miami Gardens.

Leon is leading this initiative which he believes residents desperately need.

“As of April 20 last week, only 49,000 African Americans were vaccinated in Dade County,” Leon said.

Dr. Dwight Reynolds, one of several health professionals giving the COVID-19 vaccine at this point, said knowledge is power.

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“We have to make sure that we are able to come out and let the public know. We’re not lecturing them, let’s have a discussion so that they know exactly what the vaccine and what the virus is, ”said Dr. Reynolds.

He had this message for those in the church.

“I say this to my African American brothers and sisters when we understand that approximately 175 million Americans were shot at least one shot and nobody died from it. I let them know that we are not guinea pigs here and we should take advantage of that and save lives, ”said Dr. Reynolds.

Leon has led other initiatives including providing transportation to seniors in Miami Gardens to receive their vaccine at Jessie Trice Community Health Systems. To date, hundreds of Miami Gardens residents have benefited from the effort.

The walk-in vaccination station at Brentwood Pool at 18800 NW 28th Place in Miami Gardens is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and no appointment is required.

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For information on other vaccination sites in Miami-Dade County, visit miamidade.gov/vaccine.