ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Religious leaders around the Lehigh Valley are working with the medical community to ensure minorities and low income families have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Rev. Larry Pickens of Allentown was recently elected executive director of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.
“Black and brown people have some real problems, historically, with some of the issues around vaccines and the use of them in their communities. So I think beginning to deal with that, talk about that, and educate is an important element that I believe faith communities can play in that regard,” Pickens says, “All of the groups that connect with various constituencies really have an opportunity to gather people together and to begin communicating
Dr. Timothy Friel from Lehigh Valley Health Network says neighborhood leaders are helping medical professionals to communicate accurate information.
“When you get vaccinated, you're not only protecting you, you're protecting your brother, your sister, your community members, those you love and care about, it's the same thing we do when we wear a mask,“ Friel says.
