Vermont is making coronavirus vaccine eligible for anyone over 16 years of age who identifies as black, indigenous or colored – generating fierce criticism online for excluding whites.
Republican Governor Phil Scott tweeted about the change on Thursday, while states gradually opened up eligibility for various populations. So far, the process has tended to focus on people who are vulnerable because of their occupation, age or health.
“If you or someone in your household identifies as a black, indigenous or colored person (BIPOC), including anyone with Abenaki or other First Nations heritage, all family members aged 16 and over can apply to receive a vaccine! “Scott tweeted.
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The state’s website advertises “clinics focused on BIPOC families” in northern and southern Vermont. For the Burlington area, the state offers a vaccination form that specifies eligibility for BIPOC individuals and members of their families. The first question asks: “Do you identify yourself as black, indigenous or colored person (BIPOC)? This includes anyone who is not white.”
Other eligibility categories include people aged 50 and over, people aged 16 and over with high-risk health conditions, English-speaking students and people in immigrant / refugee communities, health professionals and residents of long-term care facilities, people working in the public security system and employees of schools and daycare centers. The category of immigrants / refugees likewise offers “community-specific clinics”.
The categories lead to a website that describes the state’s strategy of “working for equity”.
“We still have a lot to do to deal with the significant disparities in the rates of infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 among Vermonters who are black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC),” says the website. “We are currently working with funded community partners to understand the barriers that can limit access to the vaccine for BIPOC Vermonters, as they require unique public health solutions.”
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The website adds that “[i]t it makes sense for public health to allow families and families facing language and access barriers to obtain information and services at the same time, instead of duplicating those services later. ”
The initiative faced a wave of online reaction. “Extremely unconstitutional and absurdly unethical,” commented conservative commentator Matt Walsh. “And he is a Republican. Of course.”
“This is the critical theory of race,” said Discovery Institute researcher Chris Rufo, referring to the controversial and now widespread school of thought that often includes generalizations about specific races.
Earlier this week, Rufo denounced an article in which two Harvard doctors proposed racial preferences in medical care as a “moral crime”.
In a statement to Fox News on Friday, Rufo called on lawyers in the public interest to file a case against Vermont.
“The Vermont program of racially separated standards, which denies medical services to a specific racial group, is a flagrant violation of the Fourteenth Amendment,” he said.
“It follows the logic of critical racial theory, which requires society to practice racial discrimination in order to rectify racial disparities, but it is not compatible with American law. Unfortunately, Vermont is another example of state neo-racism that has gained popularity in recent years. Public interest lawyers must immediately file a lawsuit against the governor. “
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Scott’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment.
Vermont’s move fits a pattern of state-supported initiatives that focus on minorities.
Fox News recently reported on Columbia University promoting graduation ceremonies based on race and other aspects of a person’s identity. The University of Nevada, Reno, is offering live learning communities with a focus on race and ethnicity. Both clarified, however, that these programs do not exclude white individuals.
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Localities are also promoting a selective universal basic income based on race.
Rufo has been highlighting situations like these and formed a coalition earlier this year with the aim of bringing lawsuits in order to reach the Federal Supreme Court.