BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — State Sen. Troy Singleton hosted a roundtable discussion with various health officials in an effort to convince African Americans to get the coronavirus vaccine, according to the senator's office.

His discussion with New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Dr. Margaret Fisher, and Virtua CEO Dennis Pullin was designed to provide facts about the vaccine and to inform people about how to get vaccinated at the state's mega-site in the former Lord & Taylor store at the Moorestown Mall.

"I fully understand there is vaccine hesitancy in our community due to unacceptable historical inequities and mistreatment of people of color with respect to health care and medical experimentation in our nation's history," Singleton said. "However, it is my hope that this roundtable conversation will reassure and inform people of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine."

It is the second time Singleton has expressed the need for everyone, including African Americans, to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. He did the same when he toured the mega-site and received the vaccine in January. Read more here: Murphy Tours Moorestown 'Megasite;' Singleton Gets Vaccine

"This is especially critical because out of the 1.8 million vaccine doses administered in New Jersey, only 4 percent of those have been received by African Americans," Singleton said. "Yet, we have been disproportionately impacted by the disease which affects not just our physical health, but our economic health."

Original Article