Harris: Vital WH is relevant in fighting COVID

Vice President Kamala Harris tells black mayors y are most important in getting an equitable response to Americans during COVID-19 crisis and it is vital ministration is relevant in fighting pandemic. "Our focus needs to be on making sure that everyone ends up in same place, she said. Harris and White House COVID-19 team held a virtual listening session Wednesday with African American Mayors Association where she told mayors "you all are boots on ground."

"That's why we wanted to meet with you in middle of this crisis. We want to make sure as an ministration that we are relevant, that we are actually meeting needs of this moment."

Newport News, Virginia Mayor McKinley Price, president of African American Mayors Association told White House COVID-19 team, that after news of a vaccine arrived re was "hope and optimism." But that Black mayor's "have been challenged recently due to slow speed at which vaccines are being ministered in many communities."

Price told Harris along with COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, and COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Chair Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith who attended session "that many health departments don't have a vaccine distribution plan that focuses on communities of color."