Thankfully H1N1 has not turned out to be the apocalyptic disaster that some feared. No one is sure why that is. However, we are not out of the woods just yet. Epidemiologist have noticed the disparity in the number of African Americans who have received flu shots. It is widely believed that this disparity is due to feelings of mistrust of the medical establishment by the African American community. As a result, the state of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) has partnered with the Cream City Medical Society (the main organization representing African American Health Care Providers), to educate the community about the flu, and more specifically H1N1.
Today I taped a segment on Black Nouveau, an African American news magazine, along with Dr. Janie Washington, to shed some light on the issue. We also discussed First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative to combate childhood obesity. The segment is expected to be broadcast next week on PBS. Return to this site for further details.
Kevin Izard, MD
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