Keturah Herron of the ACLU receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccination at the Louisville Urban League on January 20, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky.The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected minority communities.
America's disparity in health equity rears its ugly head far too often, and the lack of quality of healthcare received by ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ community during pandemics — from the 1918 flu and 2009 H1N1 flu to COVID-19 — is a stain on our healthcare system and society.As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic extends into a tenth month, Americans have been encouraged by the launch of vaccines.
The challenge has been underscored by reports that the drugmakers have had difficulty getting minorities to participate in the vaccine trials to date. As the vaccine moves beyond the trial stage, healthcare institutions, government officials and community leaders must be purposeful in tackling the issues that can cause minority communities to be underserved throughout the vaccine rollout.
This must be corrected by a concerted effort — spearheaded by healthcare industry leaders — that includes clear and consistent education and communication with their employees, enabling entire health organizations to become educators and advocates within communities across the country. Finally, we need to consider where the vaccine is administered. The places where the vaccine is given in many non-minority communities often either don't exist or aren't as readily accessible in minority communities. We can take all of the steps outlined above, but if people can't get to the place giving the vaccine, we've failed.
MazyckShamika Great read! We need to spend more time focusing on this topic! abbydphillip jaketapper CNN let’s bring more attention to the vital issue of health equity in COVID response measures!
MazyckShamika Total racist article
MazyckShamika Why do people like you make it into a race thing? It seems to be much more of an economic thing. The white guy has less of a chance contracting covid while living in low income neighborhoods? The black guy has a higher chance of catching covid living in a wealthy neighborhood?
MazyckShamika horrible
MazyckShamika It’s an opinion, a leftist opinion, not a fact