Health Emergency Declaration (HED)

The National Black Church Initiative Encourages You and Your Family to Get Your Annual Flu Shot and Follow Your Immunization Chart For All of Your Vaccines - To Stay Healthy!

Israel Baptist Church roll out of the NBCI Immunization Programme
Rev Evans still

Rev. Anthony Evans Kicks off the NBCI Immunization Campaign Videos

Video of the kick off 10:00am Israel Baptist Church service with the NBCI Immunization Campaign kick off. Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD, FACP gave the Health Sermon and is interviewed by Rev. Anthony Evans. Israel Baptist Church 1220 N Chester St, Baltimore, MD 21213 January 26, 2025

Watch this service on YouTube!

A shorter version of the video is available here. Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD, FACP gives his Health Sermon and is interviewed by Rev. Anthony Evans
Family at church with their copy of 'Immunize Now'
Young couple in front of Israel Baptist Church with their copyof 'Immunize Now!'
Pastor Lawrence Aker III and First Lady Cynthia Aker of Cornerstone Baptist Church with their copy of 'Immunize Now!'
Images from Cornerstone Baptist Church vaccination clinic
Watch this video of the NBCI hosted "Pop-up" vaccination location at Cornerstone Baptist Church 574 Madison Street, Brooklyn, NY. Cornerstone Baptist Church was one of more than 300 churches and cultural centers which have volunteered to house these sites through NY State's Vaccine Equity Task Force.

Watch this video on YouTube!

Rev. Anthony Evans Urges You to Get Vaccinated!

Rev. Anthony Evans delivers a video message from a local CVS pharmacy where he received his flu and Covid-19 immunizations.

In this message he also urges NBCI members and the public to visit the CDC website for the 2025 Immunization Schedules for children, adolescents and adults approved by ACIP and adopted by the CDC Director on October 24, 2025

Watch this video on YouTube!

Immunization and the African American Community

Image of 'Immunization Now!'
What is Immunization? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunization is a process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation. Vaccination is the act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce protection from a specific disease.

What are the Rates of Immunizations among African American Populations? African American adults are less likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have received a flu vaccine in the past year or to have ever received the pneumonia vaccine.
  • In 2018, Non-Hispanic Blacks aged 65 and older were 10 percent less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, as compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group.
  • African American children aged 19 to 35 months had comparable rates of immunization in 2017.
  • African Americans are 10 percent less likely to have received a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine as white populations.
Immunizations and Black America: A Disparity Gap in Access and Distribution Plus a Healthy Mistrust .pdf 149kb
Routine immunizations have been shown to be one of the best ways to protect your health. When you get vaccinated, you are also protecting the lives of those in your community. Yet, Black Americans are significantly more likely to be affected by vaccine-preventable diseases.

Follow this link to read more...

Percentage of adults ages 19-49 years, high risk groups, who received 3 doses of the hepatitis B vaccination, 2018
Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
35.4 43.6 0.8

Percentage of children aged 19 to 35 months who are fully immunized, 2017
Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
66.5 71.5 0.9

NBCI Comprehensive Immunization/Vaccine Confidence Plan Toward Health Equity

Beautiful child looking at mirror Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule

Recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2022

Adults, man and womanAdult Immunization Schedule

Recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2022

Handsome Black doctorResources for Healthcare Providers

Proud parents of child to be born - Photo by Andre Adjahoe on UnsplashImmunization Schedule for Pregnancy




Photo by Andre Adjahoe on Unsplash
Man, who believe it or not is able to enjoy a vacationImmunization Schedule for Travelers
Flu header

The National Black Church Initiative Comprehensive National Flu Plan for African Americans and Latinos in the COVID-19 Age

.pdf [109kb]

The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is launching one of the most comprehensive flu programs ever in its history due to the COVID-19 virus.

Our messaging campaign will be targeted at African American and Latino families with an emphasis on but not limited to African American children, pregnant women, the disabled, and the homeless.

National Black Church Initiative National Flu Campaign One Pager .pdf [135kb]
Image of man in bed feeling poorlyWe all are at risk for getting and spreading the flu. If you have asthma or other lung diseases, you are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu.

Flu Risk Factors
Influenza is a very serious illness for anyone at high risk. Certain diseases that place people at high risk include:

  • diabetes or other chronic metabolic disorder
  • morbid obesity
  • diseases (HIV, AIDS) or treatments (steroids, chemotherapy) that suppress immunity

Racial Disparities in Influenza Vaccination .pdf [61kb] lancet cover1
Effect of Race and Ethnicity on Influenza Vaccine Uptake Among Older US Medicare Beneficiaries: A Record-LinkageCohort Study .pdf [842kb]
Salaheddin M Mahmud, Liou Xu, Laura Lee Hall, Gary Puckrein, Edward Thommes, Matthew M Loiacono, Ayman Chit lancet-cover2
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