Deaf man gets Covid-19 vaccine at Ford Field

Alex: Hello! I’m here in downtown Detroit in front of Ford Field. Why am I here? FEMA is partnering up with the city to provide mass Covid-19 vaccinations. A deaf man named Teddy Dorsette just went inside to get a vaccine.

Teddy Dorsette III: I’m getting my vaccine today. We’ll see what happens when I go inside.

B-roll footage courtesy of Mich Dept. of Health and Human Services

[B-roll footage of Teddy walking inside of Ford Field, an indoor stadium. He has several ASL interpreters assist him with communicating with staff and uniformed troops from the FEMA. After going through a series of people and lines, Teddy sits down in a private, curtained room and gets a vaccine shot from a uniformed soldier.]

Teddy: Many people feel nervous or resistant against vaccines. Many are from the Black community. Why? Throughout history, there has been a lack of trust between the medical profession and people who are Black who received vaccines. In the past, Black people were used as test subjects for vaccinates. Many became sick and died. They were used for experiments. Many were traumatized and do not want it. But times have changed and today is different. The vaccines actually help people to not get sick or die. It was important for me to go ahead and get inoculated. It’s my personal opinion and experience that I haven’t seen anyone die from the vaccine itself. Instead, they actually help. So that’s different. Yes, it’s a little pinch, but it’s nothing. So, go ahead and get vaccinated. It’s worth it to protect yourself.

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