The United States is rushing to administer COVID-19 vaccines across the country to frontline workers and the elderly, but is facing mistrust – especially among people of color.
According to a New York City doctor, it is vital to address concerns about systemic racism as a public health issue – and not just for people of color, but for everyone.
“The individuals who are most concerned that I met at my clinic are my African American and Latino patients,” said Dr. Stella Safo, a primary HIV care physician and co-founder of Vote Health, in an interview with Yahoo Finance.
These groups “are really concerned and have a history of being more dubious about safety around certain medications and health care treatments,” she added.
As a black doctor, this is something I feel a lot of responsibility in, providing information so that these patients feel particularly comforted when making the decision to get the vaccine or not. “
American blacks are 1.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with coronavirus than whites – but 3.7 times more likely to be hospitalized and 2.8 times more likely to die from the disease, according to data from the Center for Disease Control .
Meanwhile, coronavirus cases are 1.7 times more likely among the Latin population, while hospitalization and mortality rates are 4.1 times and 2.8 times, respectively.
‘I can barely be treated properly’
The public’s attitude towards covid-19 vaccines is changing. A new USA Today / Suffolk University survey found that 46% of respondents would get an injection as soon as they could, compared with 26% at the end of October. However, pockets of skepticism, especially among communities of color, have experts concerned with mass inoculation of the public.
The case of Dr. Susan Moore, a black doctor who was hospitalized for coronavirus, was discharged and died, is illustrative and alarming, according to Dr. Safo.
Before she became too sick to speak, the Indiana doctor posted a video on Facebook, saying she was not receiving proper treatment. She believed that it would not have happened if she were white.
“When people see Dr. Moore’s story, they think, well, I can barely be treated properly. What makes me think the vaccine is for me, ”said Dr. Safo.
When it comes to public health and coronavirus, everyone has an interest in ensuring fair and appropriate medical treatment.
“This is what we talk about when we talk about racism: it is heavy for the whole of society, because if people are afraid to get involved in public health measures like getting a vaccine, we cannot get collective immunity, neither of us is safe,” added doctor.
One million doses of the Pfizer (PFE) -BioNtech (BNTX) vaccine have been administered – but this is a far cry from the government’s target of 20 million doses by the end of December, although there may be a delay in the data. The Modern vaccine (MRNA) started to be given this week, so those numbers have not yet been included.
Although the vaccine signaled the beginning of the end of the pandemic, experts warn that collective immunity is unlikely to be achieved for many months. Dr. Safo said that wearing masks and practicing social detachment is still an integral part of public health.
“Coming on vacation, it’s just a depressing time. Nothing seems the same, and I have a lot of patients arriving with food insecurity ”, added the doctor. “As a clinician, you feel sad about how much we’ve lost this year. But there is hope. “
Julie Hyman is the co-anchor of Yahoo Finance Live, weekdays from 9 am to 11 am ET.
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