State, local leaders demand better access for COVID-19 vaccines in communities of color
Van Hollen calls Maryland's COVID-19 vaccine equity numbers 'unacceptable'
Van Hollen calls Maryland's COVID-19 vaccine equity numbers 'unacceptable'
Van Hollen calls Maryland's COVID-19 vaccine equity numbers 'unacceptable'
One of the big topics in Maryland is getting attention on the federal level as well: Vaccine equity and access.
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Maryland health officials said the state would be ramping up the number of shots given at the state's mass vaccination sites. But volume alone will not solve the state's problem of COVID-19 vaccine equity and access, community leaders said Wednesday.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, held a virtual roundtable, in which he said economic help is on the way. He told community leaders and advocates that help is on the way in the stimulus bill that passed the House. He said the bill includes more money for vaccines and vaccine distribution.
Van Hollen highlighted a White House promise that more federal vaccines will be flowing directly into community health centers, eventually.
The senator laid out data that shows significant racial disparities in the vaccine distribution process so far in Maryland. He also pointed to the mortality rates and the economic impact from COVID-19 that has disproportionately hit communities of color in Maryland.
The senator said a troubling development is that the vaccine is not getting to communities of color, where COVID-19 has hit the hardest.
"If you look at the data, it's clear that white Marylanders are receiving the vaccine at a rate of two times what members of the Black community in Maryland are receiving it. And if you look at the Latino community, they've received about 4% of Maryland's vaccines when they represent about 11% of the overall population. These numbers are unacceptable and they need to change," Van Hollen said.
The discussion addressed how to improve vaccination rates in underserved populations and communities of color. Participants stressed vaccine education and reaching people where they are with mobile units, church-based clinics and community hubs.
"The idea of being able to take mobile units into the community, also being at church-based, faith-based locations for communities, making it very easy for the community," Dr. Morgan State University associate professor Dr. Anita Hawkins said.
Hawkins said it's not just about having numerous locations, but making sure those locations -- and the signup process -- are convenient and accessible.
Local leaders demand better access for vaccines in communities of color
Two different jurisdictions in Maryland are facing the same concerns as Baltimore City officials are joined by Prince George's County to demand better access for vaccines from Gov. Larry Hogan for people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Leaders from Baltimore City government to the state to health professionals convened Wednesday night in an emergency hearing calling on better access to COVID-19 vaccines for communities of color.
"Despite statements otherwise, the residents of Baltimore City are both entitled to and deserve the vaccine. However, our residents do not have equitable access to vaccine doses and the state is not providing an equitable share across local jurisdictions. If vaccine distribution were equitable, we would expect to be comparable rates of vaccinations across racial groups and jurisdictions,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said.
City leaders were joined by leaders from Prince George's County in a virtual hearing.
Both areas have mass vaccination sites, yet, with a small number of minorities getting the shot.
According to city data, about 6% of Black and Latinos in Baltimore are vaccinated, while nearly 18% of white Baltimoreans have gotten the shot.
"While this collaboration with clinical partners has been key to mounting our response, the lack of communication and coordination has been frustrating to say the least,” Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said.
Many officials are calling on Hogan to prioritize communities of color, and create a universal database showing the progress of vaccinations across all Marylanders, specifically, the communities crippled by the coronavirus.
"This is a critical moment and it's critically important that we have leadership, and that's exactly what you called us here to do. What we know is that when government makes decisions in the dark, when they develop solutions particularly in the midst of a crisis without data, it's the under-served communities, communities that look like parts of Prince George's County or Baltimore City that are left holding the short end of the stick,” Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby said.
The governor and Maryland National Guard Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, who heads the Maryland Vaccine Equity Task Force, will provide a briefing on vaccine equity at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
