Newark Biomedical Scientist Supports COVID Vaccines (WATCH)

NEWARK, NJ — A new video crafted by the national #ScienceWorks campaign aims to increase awareness and trust in biomedical science and research – which has a large presence in New Jersey.

Released in conjunction with World Immunization Week, the video features scientists and public health experts who have volunteered their expertise to the campaign and who want to share why they are taking COVID-19 vaccines.

One of the scientists in the video is Denarra Simmons, a Newark biomedical scientist at Merck.

Simmons has written about the importance of trusting and supporting biomedical science on Essence.com, and speaks with aspiring youth about the importance of science. She also recently participated in a virtual event with U.S. Senator Cory Booker.

Simmons said that her passion for science, inspired as a child by a Black scientist in a lab coat, is motivated by her desire to help people and communities … including her own in Newark.

• See related article: Don't Lose Faith In Science Amid COVID, Newark Researcher Pleads

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