Friday afternoon, county health officials offered free vaccinations outside of Afrikutz Barber & Beauty Shop in Silver Spring. Residents who received a free vaccine also received a free haircut.
The initiative was aimed at closing the COVID-19 vaccination gap between Black residents and white residents. Black residents currently have a vaccination rate 3% lower than white residents, but according to County Executive Marc Elrich, not so long ago, the gap used to be 18%.
MyMCM spoke to Elrich at the barbershop about how the county is working to provide information to communities who might be hesitant about the vaccine: