Inequities Plague COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
As COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have begun in countries around the world, there finally appears to be an end in sight for the pandemic. However, one of the primary concerns that has emerged regarding vaccination has been racial inequities in vaccination rates. The pandemic has hit communities of color in the United States particularly hard, with Black, Hispanic and Native American people dying from COVID-19 at almost three times the rate of white people. However, newly released vaccination data shows that in all places, Black people are being vaccinated at rates below their percentage of the population. For example, in Maryland, Black people comprise 30% of the population but only 16% of those vaccinated. White people make up 55% of the population, but 67% of those vaccinated.
Some factors being cited by experts for this disparity include poor access to the vaccine in neighborhoods with higher non-white populations, mistrust among Black Americans due to historical medical discrimination, and a lack of access to online platforms to sign up for the vaccine. Among Latinx communities, there is also a language barrier and concerns about deportation through vaccination sites.
Heading into conference, consider how you can apply your knowledge of healthcare inequities to the current situation, how your country is handling equity regarding COVID-19, and any ideas you have to solve this problem. As COVID-19 death tolls continue to grow, ensuring that the vaccine is effectively and fairly distributed is essential.
https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-health-coronavirus-pandemic-hispanics-d0746b028cf56231dbcdeda0fba24314
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ReplyDeletePortugal recognizes the inequity in not only COVID-19 vaccination distribution but across general healthcare internationally and within our own population. Having universal healthcare under the Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) for minors and the elderly, providing equal treatment across all citizens across differing income brackets has posed an issue in the past. One solution that Portugal has found involves the implementation of sub-systems to operate in certain fields. Examples include the Integrated Emergency Medical System (SIEM) and National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEM) which deal in specialized types of medical treatment while being overseen by the SNS. Having subsystems and active private health organizations such as the Portugeuse Red Cross has been exceptionally helpful in keeping closer contact and track of patients. In this way, Portugal is able to operate on a doctor referral system based on need, allowing the health centers to prepare in advance and log patients coming in and out more efficiently and cost-effectively than a walk-in and pay system.
ReplyDeleteIn direct response to COVID-19, Portugal is currently on track to vaccinate 70% of the adult population by 2023. Phase one of the vaccine rollout has begun with public health and healthcare workers, and continuing agreements to buy shots with manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The main issue Portugal is currently facing is the under-delivery of vaccines into the nation, which is delaying the vaccination process and also increasing public demand. Some issues that have arisen from this are family members of healthcare workers taking the vaccination out of queue and preventing other essential workers from their rightful vaccine. In response to this, Portugal has called for a tightening on background and restrictions for who becomes vaccinated with Rear Adm. Henrique Gouveia e Melo taking control as the head of the vaccine task force. Each state institution within Portugal is also being required to clearly define who qualifies as an essential worker to allow vaccination to process as smoothly as possible. As all medical care in Portugal filters through the SNS, subsystems, and in tandem with government supervision, fair distribution across population even between rural and urban areas has been ensured as well as across all citizens regardless of status, income, or race. As such, Portugal strongly recommends its system of multi-tiered medical systems to increase transparency and equity.
- Delegation of Portugal
Works Cited
ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/portugal-vaccine-rollout-chief-unsteady-start-75678681.
“COVID-19 Vaccines Will Be Free for All in Portugal, Says Health Minister.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 3 Dec. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-portugal-vaccine/covid-19-vaccines-will-be-free-for-all-in-portugal-says-health-minister-idUSKBN28D2H9.
“Delivery Delays Force Portugal to Extend First Phase of Vaccinations.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 28 Jan. 2021, www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-portugal-vaccine/delivery-delays-force-portugal-to-extend-first-phase-of-vaccinations-idUSKBN29X23M.