COVID-19 vaccine: study shows minority communities in the Houston area do not have access to the vaccine

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – Some of the neighborhoods that were hit hardest by COVID-19 in the Houston area now have the lowest reported vaccination rates.

“From the start, 77088 was high on COVID-19,” said Susie Molina, whose parents live on the Acres Homes ZIP Code.

For almost 52 years, Lydia Rodriguez and her husband have been inseparable. Then COVID-19 appeared.

Lydia contracted the virus and died.

“We just have to be thankful that my dad is doing well,” said Susie. “We heard so many stories that both members of the family died.”

The data prove that stories like Susie’s are very common.

The statistics on the number of vaccination fees per zip code from the Houston Department of Health are staggering.

On the map above, the orange areas, which consist mainly of postal codes in the north, northeast and southeast of Houston, show only 1-4% penetration of vaccine rates.

Meanwhile, the areas colored in black, shaped like an “arrow” that runs from the center to the Memorial, have much higher vaccine rates.

The area near the Medical Center has an astonishing 35% vaccination rate, while Bellaire and West University Place are hovering around 20%.

“I wish I could say I was surprised, but there is a lot of clear evidence that there are health disparities between postal codes,” said pediatrician Dr. Joyee Vachani, who lives in Bellaire. “It is a problem of access to healthcare, depending on the geographic location you are in.”

Within Bellaire, about 21% of residents are vaccinated. This area benefits not only from the affluence, but also from the large number of medical workers who live in the community and had early access to the vaccine.

County judge Lina Hidalgo says the data shows that the first recipients of the vaccine were disproportionately white and Asian. She says that part of this is due to the first vaccination of medical personnel, but she also says that disparities are a constant concern.

“A percentage of the county’s vaccines are going to community health centers that serve only low-income residents. Some go to Harris health clinics, which also serve low-income neighborhoods, ”said Hidalgo. “We are working to build more locations across the county, to make it easier for people to access the locations.”

However, until the supply of vaccines increases dramatically, getting them to these communities will remain a challenge.

Track the availability and progress of the COVID-19 vaccine in Houston

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