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Pharmacist: Minority representation makes a difference at vaccine clinics

Of the more than 2.5 million people in Ohio who have gotten a Covid shot, the majority are white.

State data shows 21.31 percent of white people have been vaccinated. Meanwhile, 10.79 percent of black people have been vaccinated.

“There is a degree of hesitancy. It’s real. And there are very valid reasons for the hesitancy,” Gregory Braylock, Zik’s Family Pharmacy’s head pharmacist said. “We and our entire community have understood the history of what our people have gone through.”

His company is promoting the importance of the shots.

“It’s an educational process. It’s a little bit of a curve, but I think that we’re getting to the point where more people in the community are feeling more comfortable about the vaccine. But there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Braylock said.

Zik’s Family Pharmacy is an independent and minority run business.

At its Dayton clinics, most of the people giving the shots are people of color, something Braylock said makes a difference.

“You just feel more comfortable. You feel more relaxed. You know that your people are going to look out for you and they’re going to take good care of you,” Braylock said.

He also said, generally at least half of the people who have come to the clinics are minorities.

“We realize that with every shot, every vaccine that we give, it is an actual protection of a life, so we take this very seriously. And we’re just grateful to have been a part, and continuing to be a part of ridding ourselves of Covid,” Braylock said.

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