Yvonne Dixon, a health director for Novant Health shares her reason for taking the Covid 19 vaccine and the historic and recent health inequities that may deter African-Americans and people of color from receiving theirs.
The Covid 19 Vaccine: A Reflection on Impact and Equity - Yvonne Dixon
January 2021
Welcome to Mosaic, your Novant Health podcast for diversity, inclusion and equity. You'll learn more about the mosaic of similarities and differences that make us stronger, and how health equity benefits us all. Piece by piece, we're telling the stories of the beautiful mosaic of Novant Health.
Ashleigh Hargrave 0:28
I'm Ashleigh Hargrave. Today's episode features a leadership reflection with the spotlight on health equity. We'll hear from Yvonne Dixon, Director of health equity, as she shares her personal reflection on the COVID-19 vaccine and equity in medicine.
Yvonne Dixon 0:47
Hello, everyone, this is Yvonne Dixon, Director of health equity from the Office of diversity, inclusion and equity. really, you know, I want you to hear something, do you hear that sound in the background. it's a tick tock sound? It is an actual clock there, I have an antique clock on the wall, and I'm sitting up under this clock. And it's called an eight day clock. This clock is about 100 years old, or I'll say is over 100 years old, it was my great grandfather's clock. So yes, it's over 100 years old, but I'm sitting under this clock, just to remind me and you of what time it is.
You know, there are times in which I am sitting in the same room with this clock. And although the tick tock is very loud. Sometimes I don't hear it.I have become so accustomed to hearing this tick tock sound, that I can be in the same room with it sometimes, and I don't hear it. I bring that up because there are times in which when we are called, we are called to do something that is so very right, we don't do what is needed because we don't hear it. We don't hear the call. Because we believe that, you know, sometimes maybe we don't need to hear that call. Or we can become immune to hearing that call if needed for need.
Unknown Speaker 2:28
Again, confirmed cases within North Carolina is 6274. We also have a number of deaths, meaning 7328. Again, this is a call I want you to hear this call, not become immune to this call.Because the call is for all of us to really and truly highly consider taking the COVID vaccine injection.I have taken this injection.
3:07
And that was on the 22nd of December. I'll be due for my second injection on the 18th of January. And I'm looking forward to taking the second part of that vaccine. Why? No, I don't like to get stuck. But at the same time, I know that it's beneficial for me. And I'm very thankful that we have the opportunity to be able to take this vaccine. I know that there are several people, I've talked with several people that are not interested in taking this vaccine and really not having a real good reason as to why. But I do understand, especially when we're talking about previous history, especially as it relates to African Americans. You know, for black people, we have had a very bad history when it comes to how we have been treated as a relates to medicine. One of those stories relating to the Tuskegee experiment, and how so many men were not treated appropriately because of the the diagnosis of syphilis, and not given the treatment to eradicate syphilis, only doing some of those things such as what we can hear about now kind of like that watch and wait and see what happens. But the watch and waiting for those individuals for over 40 years during the course of this experiment did not provide for great benefits. Matter of fact, death occurred. And then we think about in the past the story about Henrietta Lacks and howher body was used for science, although the outcome of that science was good, her family was not, did not provide for approval to be able to use her body. Again, one of those inequities in science.
5:19
And as we look to the present right now, there are so many individuals that are not receiving equitable care, based upon sometimes those social determinants of healththat befall us. But at the same time, there is truth, and there is appropriate treatment for all of us. And we must speak that truth, I say to you, and to all of us to seek getting that treatment of the COVID vaccine.
5:55
Number one, I told you, I have received the treatment and am going back to the second portion of that vaccine. Also, as an African American, and female, black female, I know that I am at that age where COVID is is really taken us out those individuals that are over 60 years old, I fall into that category, also African American, I am in that category. And I also have someone here that lives with me, my 92 year old father, who definitely has comorbidities that would if he were to obtain thevirus, that would definitely befall him as a health care provider, as a nurse entering in and out of these facilities and definitely don't want to carry anything with me. So just knowing what's been in the past as to why African Americans do not want to take it and then knowing what's current, in terms of inequities in health care, and there are,but there's no reason for you to not take care of yourself. I urge you, I contend that this vaccine is something that we all need to take. But I am mostly impressing upon my African American brothers and sisters, to please take this vaccine.
7:36
Because as you can hear in the background once again of the ticking clock.It is important for us to know what time it is.
Ashleigh Hargrave 7:46
Thank you, Yvonne for sharing your insight and personal reflections on equity and the necessity for care, especially as it relates to the COVID-19 vaccine, and all of our communities. Listeners, please contact your healthcare provider for more information as your health care provider is a valuable partner in looking after your health and helping you make decisions about your care.
8:17
Thanks for listening to mosaic your podcast for diversity, inclusion and equity at Novant Health. Stay tuned for our next exciting episode.
