Nurse Patricia Cummings administers the Moderna vaccine to Kamala Harris at the United Medical Centre in Washington on Tuesday. AFP

US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris received her COVID vaccine live on television and urged public trust in the process, while her choice of hospital highlighted the plight of the hard-hit African-American community.

A mask-wearing Harris received the first of her two shots at United Medical Center, located in an area of Washington, DC with a large African-American population.

African-American communities nationwide have seen disproportionately high levels of death and illness related to the COVID-19 pandemic, while polls have also indicated they are among the most reluctant to get vaccinated.

Kamala Harris stands after receiving a dose of the Moderna vaccine. Reuters

"So I want to remind people that right in your community is where you can take the vaccine, where you will receive the vaccine by folks you may know," she said after receiving the vaccine manufactured by US firm Moderna. "So I want to remind people that they have trusted sources of help and that's where they will be able to go to get the vaccine."

Harris will become the first Black and Indian-American vice president when she takes office on Jan.20, as well as the first woman in the role. Her husband Doug Emhoff was also to be vaccinated.

A string of public officials have been vaccinated before cameras as part of efforts to overcome public skepticism and convince those in doubt that the immunisations are vital to returning to a semblance of normality in the months ahead.

Kamala Harris thanks nurse Patricia Cummings after she received the vaccine. AP

President-elect Joe Biden was vaccinated live on television on Dec.21.

Outgoing President Donald Trump, who was hospitalised with the virus in October, has not committed to being vaccinated.

Agence France-Presse