Blacks and Latinos deserve equity in COVID-19 fight
An email sent from the New Jersey Department of Health caused excitement.
My heart anticipated an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. Opened the message then felt blood rush into my shoes. The transmission offered status quo from a state that parallels a nation in this uninspiring attempt to control a pandemic.
The message read, “You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. (Knew that) However, due to supply limitations, vaccination appointments may be difficult to get so we ask for your continued patience during this process.”
Next, an explanation of potential vaccination opportunities.
“Since you are registered with the NJ Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS), you will be notified when appointments are available in the NJVSS. We’ll send you an invitation to schedule your appointment at this email address when more appointment slots open up. (Knew that, too).
Could “make an appointment directly with one of the many designated vaccination sites across the state although due to high demand, sites on this list may be fully booked at this time.”
So, state officials want registrants qualified for the vaccine to race around like rats. This is Whack-a-mole with vaccine syringes.
A girlfriend found a vaccine in Readington. Vanished before she completed a questionnaire.
Officials remain disconnected from issues faced by many people living in urban and rural environments.
Blacks and Latinos living in Trenton should not have to drive ridiculous distances for the vaccine. They should not have to journey through or to Caucasian communities and run the risk of being stopped by police forces of those municipalities.
Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan, non-profit organization for information on national health issues, painted a dire portrait of vaccination access.
Kaiser alleged vaccination patterns by race and ethnicity appear to be at odds with who the virus has affected the most.
“Based on vaccinations with
known race/ethnicity, the share of vaccinations among Black people is smaller than their share of cases in all 16 reporting states and smaller than their share of deaths in 15 states.”
The Foundation noted in Mississippi, “Black people account for 15% of vaccinations, compared to 38% of cases and 42% of deaths.”
In President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware, 8% of vaccinations have been received by Black people, while they make up nearly a quarter of cases (24%) and deaths (23%).
In New Jersey, less than 1 in 10 vaccines end up in the arms of African Americans. Gov. Phil
Murphy and Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, like other national health tandems, have made minimal inroads regarding vaccine hesitancy and vaccine availability, especially
in Black and Latino households.
Murphy and Persichilli should find pleasure in more than 500,000 state residents having received a vaccination although if just 50,000 of those injections entered arms of Black folk then concern should ratchet.
Statistics present situations severely distanced from equity, plus, the reality of being disenfranchised further as vaccine supply remains limited, causes an erosion of trust between minority community members and government.
A similar desertion occurs with the national health issue of gun violence. That chronic problem receives minimal reaction although gun violence impacts Blacks and Latinos disproportionately, just like COVID-19.
Bean counters tally and record the number of gun violence victims for a year then simply turn the page. Perhaps, a prayer for the departed followed by no real plan to curtail gun violence nor understand how these violent acts connect with poverty and education.
President Biden promised, “We are going to make sure there are vaccination centers in communities hit hardest by the pandemic, in Black and Latino communities and rural communities as well,” Biden said.
The Biden assurances remain suspect as U.S. history includes unethical experiments performed on Blacks. Trusting a government with such a dire history, including a genocide of Native Americans, seems both reasonable and understandable.
Still, Blacks and Latinos must wear masks, watch our distance and wash hands regularly to stop the spread of death.
And raise your voices. This government of the people, by the people, for the people has a responsibility to safeguard every resident.
Gov. Murphy and President Biden stand forewarned to give us equity or we shall surely die.