“Do you have the COVID-19 vaccines here with you today?” was a question I received from a community member during a vaccine education session in San Bernardino, California, in September 2023. Sadly, I had to inform the congregant that I did not have the vaccines on hand as a previous vaccinating partner had recently jilted me.
This question marked a turning point in my three-year journey to promote vaccine uptake within Black communities in San Bernardino County. Gone were the questions heavily riddled with vaccine mistrust and weariness, and in their place was the intent to be immunized. This brings forth a harsh reality: We cannot address trustworthiness without addressing the ever-present accessibility barriers to preventative health across minoritized populations in the United States.