What’s Driving Inequitable Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution?

A myriad of systematic and social factors fueled the lack of vaccines in Black and Latino communities

Elizabeth Griffin, 86, is given her first dose of the Moderna coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by Anya Harris at Red Hook Neighborhood Senior Center in the Red Hood neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough on February 22, 2021 in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Covid-19 vaccines emerged as a medical breakthrough, but like many other innovations, they have been disproportionately helping white Americans as compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

As of February 2021, a stark Covid-19 vaccine disparity remains. In Delaware, Black people account for 24% of statewide Covid-19 cases, yet only 9% have received the vaccine. Similarly in Colorado, Hispanic people account for 36% of Covid-19 cases, but only 6% have been vaccinated.

“I’ve heard from [Black and Latino] patients that they want the vaccine, but there is a supply issue and that will continue to be an issue over the next few months.”

There has been a lot of discussion about vaccine hesitancy in Black and Latino communities rooted in a history of medical racism in those communities. However, vaccine skepticism is not the main factor fueling these massive disparities in vaccination.