FAIRMONT â Jesse Lawson had been waiting weeks for a call informing him of when he could get his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
He finally received a call for an appointment, but the caller was not someone he expected when scheduling a vaccine appointment.
âRomelia Hodges, who I have known her for a few years now,â Lawson said of the caller. âI have just kind of waited patiently until I was contacted.â
On Wednesday, Lawson finally received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a special clinic aimed at vaccinating the African-American population of Marion County. Hodges is a member of the COVID-19 Advisory Commission on African American Disparities, which formed last year because the Black population of the state was not being tested for COVID at the same rate as caucasians. Hodges said the rate at which Black people are being vaccinated is also low when compared to the White population.