When And I Stand Board Member, Dr. Ebony Beaudoin is not serving as Board Chair, taking care of her family, and giving tirelessly to the community, this superwoman is a Medical Doctor with the University of Texas (UT) Physicians. In addition, Ebony W. Beaudoin, MD, is an assistant professor for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
As a doctor, she knows how important it is for the community to understand COVID-19 especially as it relates to the mental stigma surrounding obtaining the vaccine. Dr. Beaudoin said,"As a doctor, I am on the front lines risking my life to ensure my patients continue to receive the quality care they need during the pandemic and beyond." She went on to say, "while I love serving my patients, I am also a mother and wife so I have to make sure I do my part. Getting the vaccine for me was vital and I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to receive the vaccine to take it. I know deciding whether to get the vaccine can mentally mind boggling, but you have to think about your safety , your life, and others around you."
As it relates to communities of color, research show there is a huge health disparity among minorities relating to vaccine access which is a major problem. Specifically speaking, another challenge is the mistrust in vaccines by minority communities, especially the Black community which stems from the past. As a society, we cannot argue with history and disregard horrific events like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study; government officials and medical leaders etc. must take these concerns seriously. But what is one way we can move forward? While Black people will never forget the devastation from historic wounds surrounding unethical and unjust research studies, the time is now for Black people to take back their power and change the narrative. Research suggest that some Black people have a history of underlying health conditions that make COVID-19 a huge enemy for the Black community. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention noted, "a study of selected states and cities with data on COVID-19 deaths by race and ethnicity showed that 34% of deaths were among non-Hispanic Black people, though this group accounts for only 12% of the total U.S. population." With statistics like these, taking a stand against the coronavirus is essential. More importantly, researching and educating the Black community and other communities of color about the vaccine is important because it takes one to reach one.
Dr. Beaudoin received her shot and overall, despite being a little sore where the shot was administered temporarily, she is doing great. She said, "I chose to live and keep those around me safe!"The And I Stand family commends Dr. Beaudoin for her bravery and her continued service to the community! She is an inspiration to many people and we are honored to have her serve and the AIS Board Chair.
Reference Study:
Holmes L, Enwere M, Williams J, et al. Black-White Risk Differentials in COVID-19 (SARS-COV2) Transmission, Mortality and Case Fatality in the United States: Translational Epidemiologic Perspective and Challenges. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):4322. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124322
Other resource:
NIH: Experimental Coronavirus Vaccine Highly Effective- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/experimental-coronavirus-vaccine-highly-effective#:~:text=Clinical%20trial%20results%20showed%20that,use%2C%20is%20safe%20and%20effective.