WASHINGTON – Howard University is making it easier for local residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine – by removing barriers such as transportation and technology.

Howard University Hospital and Howard University Faculty Practice Plan worked with D.C. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, to establish a vaccine clinic at Mount Moriah Baptist Church on Friday, March 26. The Howard team vaccinated 180 people during the event.

Senior pastor at Mount Moriah, Lucius Dalton, said the church had 180 people sign up in four days of announcing event details. He said the event was geared toward ensuring Black and brown people in the Hill East Neighborhood of Ward 6 were vaccinated, where statistics show the vaccination numbers are low.

“It’s good that [an] HBCU is willing to come into a community such as this to vaccinate Black and brown people,” Dalton said. “It makes our people feel more comfortable to be vaccinated by an HBCU medical system at a predominantly Black church.”

As vaccine disparities persist and underserved communities lag behind, city leaders are working to bring doses directly to the people who need them most.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Councilmember Allen said. “This has been a real team effort. Howard University has been fantastic. This is about taking care of ourselves, our neighbors and our families.”

Northeast resident Annice Majette, 62 years old, got the vaccine at the event, but said she had to overcome some initial reservations. 

“I’m feeling kind of Tuskegee about the whole thing,” Majette said. “But I must listen to my primary care physician at Howard University Hospital. My doctors told me to do what’s best for me for my underlying conditions. I am a Parkinson’s patient.”

Some of the barriers to vaccination include costs associated with transportation, lack of technology skills to navigate appointment portals, and lack of trust of medical providers. Deborah Johnson, a 64-year-old southeast resident, said the vaccine event was helpful because she wanted to live a long life.   

“I have grandkids. I’m trying to live a little longer. Everybody in here wants to live longer,” Johnson said. “If people open their eyes, they can see all the people who have died. That’s truth within itself. People need to get out of their own way.”

Dr. Shelly McDonald-Pinkett, chief medical officer at Howard University Hospital, administered shots at the church event. She stressed the importance of vaccination and reaching people where they feel most comfortable, out in the community.

“We know people trust their churches and their community centers, and we know they trust Howard University,” Dr. McDonald-Pinkett said.

Pictured above: Northeast resident receives Covid vaccine; (also pictured) Pastor Lucius Dalton, Dr. Shelly McDonald-Pinkett, and Councilman Charles Allen. 

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that comprises 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Sholnn Freeman, senior communications specialist, sholnn.freeman@howard.edu