Since the day they were born, twin sisters Dr. Delana Wardlaw (above, right) and Dr. Elana McDonald have done everything together – even today, as they practice medicine in Philadelphia. In the latest episode of “The Vaccine, In Our Words,” see how the sisters are working in tandem to educate their patients about the importance of getting the COVID vaccine, while working to combat the racial health disparities that have been brought to light by the pandemic in underserved communities like theirs.
Growing up in an underserved community in North Philadelphia themselves, the pair of practitioners knows firsthand the struggle Black Americans face with being more susceptible to diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes – all factors that cause increased risk of severe illness or death when exposed to COVID-19. That’s why they believe that the first step toward health equity is breaking down the financial, informational and geographical barriers that may be standing between their patients and the vaccine.
As part of “The Vaccine, In Our Words” the film is one of seven short documentary films sponsored by Walgreens featuring stories of people and communities struggling with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The films, which premiered on YouTube, were made by Slipstream, in collaboration with Walgreens’ marketing team.
“Vaccine equity is critical to getting our country healthy and protected, and it’s work that Walgreens has prioritized since the start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout,” says Alethia Jackson, VP of federal government relations and chair of Walgreens’ COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Task Force, which focuses on addressing barriers to access for underserved communities. “The work to ensure all Americans have culturally-sensitive, accurate information as well as equitable access to this life-saving vaccine is ongoing, and its success is in part contingent upon trusted local advocates such as Dr. Wardlaw and Dr. McDonald.”
See the sisters educate, inform and protect their community, one patient at a time: