US officials look to boost confidence in vaccine

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome ams hailed first day of COVID-19 vaccinations in U.S., saying it's "truly an historic day."

But speaking at a news conference Monday to launch vaccination of health care workers in nation’s capital., ams expressed concern that some in mirity communities won't chose to get shot. And he looked to stress vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, while raising issues of social equity.

"Having a vaccine is only first step," ams said. "We must w move from vaccines to vaccinations. And it would be a great trdy if disparities actually worsened because people who could most benefit from this vaccine won't take it."

ams said he understands why some people of color would be skeptical, saying nation "must first ackwledge this real history of mistreatment and exploitation of mirities by medical community and government."

But he underscored that people of color are "represented among researchers who developed vaccine, scientists and doctors who reviewed it in tens of thousands of study participants who bravely volunteered so y could prove this vaccine's safety and its efficacy."

ams said officials "need to explain and demonstrate all that has been done to dress se wrongs..to make sure trdies like Tuskegee Syphilis Study or exploitation of Henrietta Lacks never happen again."

surgeon general also called on Americans to double down on practicing responsible behaviors such as avoiding travel and garings, maintaining social distance, wearing masks and washing ir hands frequently as public awaits an end to global pandemic.

(Im Credit: AP)