By Stanley Thompson, MD, MHA, FACEP, David Hogan, DO, MPH, FACEP and Khadeja Haye, MD, MBA, FACOG
Originally published May 28, 2021. COVID-19 information updated Sept. 2, 2021.
Numerous studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color in the United States. Black, Hispanic or Latinx, and Native American people are approximately four times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than their majority counterparts. There are numerous reasons for these disparities, many of which are the same as other findings of disparity in other disease states (i.e. the social determinants of medicine).
We know that vaccination is the key to preventing COVID-19 in all people. America’s vaccination effort is among the best in the world. However, where race is known, people of color are getting vaccinated at lower rates than white Americans. COVID-19 vaccine disparities exist for a myriad of reasons, including unequal access and vaccine hesitancy.
Download TeamHealth’s COVID-19 vaccine disparities and hesitancy resource for more information and strategies to help overcome these challenges.
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