Local Sorority Hosts Vaccination Event At Vernon AME Church

Today, Tulsa's historic Vernon AME Church focused its health outreach efforts on the African American community.

Local health experts say events like these are crucial because they get people vaccinated and also how to reach even more people moving forward.

Deondre Chappell says he waited to get vaccinated because of misinformation he heard but decided to get his first COVID-19 shot for his family.

"All of them still breathing so, all of them still have their appendages and didn't grow any extra so....I said, I might as well go ahead and do it. I mean we need to be safe out here," Chappell said.

Organizers say today's goal was to fight illnesses that greatly affect the African American community.

According to the Tulsa Health Department, only 25 percent of African Americans in Oklahoma have gotten the COVID vaccine.

Ellen Niemitalo believes having an event like this during the weekend makes getting vaccinated easier.

She says with cases rising because of the Delta variant, every person who rolls up their sleeve is a huge win.

"We had a lot more people who are wanting the vaccine than vaccine available," Niemitalo said. "Now we have plenty of vaccines available. So, we really are considering a success anytime we get one more person vaccinated."

And Chappell says his decision to get vaccinated today was made easier thanks to community members opening their doors.

"It's easier to trust the process when a person you're getting information from or getting whatever, you're getting from looks like you," Chappell said.