Vaccination Reclamation: The Facts
The U.S is nearing one million COVID-19 deaths, with Black people accounting for 14% of deaths (Hill and Artiga, 2022). Though that statistic may sound reasonable, 14% of deaths are higher than the population Blacks account for in America, which is a meager 13%. Worse, only 3% of the participants in the COVID-19 vaccine trials are Black, thus possibly jeopardizing the vaccination trial’s legitimacy. Vaccine trials with a wide range of participants must develop a treatment that works for everyone. Because of evident discrepancies in modern-day care and past experiences of abuse, many Black people claim they do not trust the medical profession. Misinformation regarding the vaccine development process has also contributed to the problem. Low Black involvement in COVID-19 vaccination tests might have severe ramifications for their health and well-being in the future. The CDC reported that “rural counties had lower first-dose vaccination coverage (58.5%) than did urban counties (75.4%)” (Saelee et al., 2022). These data show that many Black American children and their families who live in poor and rural areas have not received the vaccine, despite being entitled to it through COVID-19. There are three explanations: 1) health providers have given up on this community; 2) a lack of funds has led to difficulties obtaining the vaccine; 3) cultural resistance prevents some families from vaccinating their children.
I have written before here about the role of the health delivery system in creating health disparities for African Americans. The system is so fragmented and localized that it is difficult to get uniform access, even for people who qualify for Medicaid. Even when Black children have access to medical care, they are still less likely to receive healthy child checkups than white children. But if a child does go to a doctor, there is also evidence that they will be less likely to get immunized than their white counterpart (CDC, 2022). The CDC has tracked immunization rates nationally and in each state since 2004. In the same way that health disparities are measured by high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity rates, the CDC tracks differences in vaccination rates across races. According to their latest data, Colorado has a lower overall vaccination rate (for both regular and seasonal vaccines) than the national average, with a 4% disparity between Blacks and Whites. But the difference grows considerably if one looks only at Black children. According to information provided by COVID-19, restrictions that limit vaccine availability do not necessarily explain all this disparity. There are many factors other than vaccine access that can affect if someone gets vaccinated or not. These include personal, social, and financial barriers to vaccination.
A survey conducted by Axios shows that “more than half of unvaccinated Americans live in households that make less than $50,000 annually” (Herman, 2021). That, coupled with the data from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) stating that “the median Black household earned just 61 cents for every dollar of income the median white household earned” (Wilson, 2020), shows the correlation between Black people and their lack of funds and their inability to access vaccines. But is this really because of the color of their skin? I believe that it is not just because they’re Black that they are at a disadvantage. It’s because they don’t have the money to acquire vaccines, which means there’s also less chance for them to protect themselves from diseases like COVID-19. (Inflate this paragraph or add another one)
It’s possible that cultural resistance prevents some black families from vaccinating their children. Their beliefs may be based on misconceptions about the safety and efficacy of vaccination, or they may be afraid that immunization is a form of risky experimentation. Many people, especially parents, have come to believe in certain allegations, a popular one being the belief that vaccines cause autism. While there is no proof for this allegation, suspicions rise from the very few cases (lost my citation somehow) in which this actually occurred. This belief is sometimes called “vaccine-autism,” and a 2007 survey finds that 46% of black parents are concerned that immunizations may cause autism in their children. More than half of all the public-health funding that goes to mass immunization programs is spent on those with low incomes. An estimated 85% of people eligible for the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) are black, yet only about 50% receive it. “Race and race theory has always had a huge impact on how people think about vaccination, but there has not been a lot of rigorous research on who believes what and why,” says Rebecca Eisenberg, who conducted the study. (citation + inflate)
Whether it be racial inequity by way of medical caregivers, or inability to access vaccines due to lower or lack of funds, or even contradictory beliefs and suspicions, the infinitesimal number of vaccinated Blacks is alarming. In order to safely protect themselves and their children, Black parents vaccinate their families. We can’t continue to allow our Black babies to be targeted and stricken with deadly diseases because they can’t afford vaccines. In order to make a significant impact, we need to teach our sons, Black and otherwise, that when they are born, they are not just Black but American. A true American is not one who looks backward in time; a true American looks forward to the future. A true American is also not someone who was born into wealth; a true American is one who strives for wealth through hard work. Moving forward, Black parents should talk with their doctor about the benefits of vaccines; do additional research on vaccines online; ask your pediatrician about the schedule for your child’s vaccinations; and schedule an appointment with a local health clinic if they have further questions. A change must occur for the Black community to continue to strive as they have, and it starts now.
Rough Works Cited (to be added to, probably):
Hill, Latoya, and Artiga, Samantha. “Covid-19 Cases and Deaths by Race/Ethnicity: Current Data and Changes over Time.” KFF, Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga, 22 Feb. 2022, https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/covid-19-cases-and-deaths-by-race-ethnicity-current-data-and-changes-over-time/#:~:text=These%20age%2Dstandardized%20data%20show,19%20infection%20than%20White%20people.
Saelee, Ryan, et al. “Disparities in Covid-19 Vaccination Coverage between Urban and Rural Counties – United States, December 14, 2020–January 31, 2022.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7109a2.htm#:~:text=Overall%2C%20during%20December%2014%2C%202020,and%2073.2%25%2C%20respectively).
“Covid-19 Vaccine Equity for Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Mar. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/vaccine-equity.html#:~:text=Because%20of%20these%20and%20other,and%20non%2DHispanic%20White%20people.
Herman, B. (2021, July 12). Most unvaccinated people have low incomes. Axios. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.axios.com/covid-vaccines-low-income-poor-workers-58698275-0451-4158-a967- 37189dbf673c.html
Wilson, V. (2020, September 16). Racial disparities in income and poverty remain largely unchanged amid strong income growth in 2019. Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved April 11, 2022, from https://www.epi.org/blog/racial-disparities-in-income-and-poverty-remain-largely-unchanged-amid- strong-income-growth-in-2019/