Journal Article

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In COVID-19 Booster Uptake

Kranz, Ashley M, Ringel, Jeanne S, Faherty, Laura J, Phillips, Brian, Baker, Lawrence

2022

Overview

We investigated racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of March 29,2022, uptake of the first dose was higher among Hispanic and Asian people than among White and Black people. In contrast, uptake rates of the booster were higher among Asian and White people than among Black and Hispanic people. Black and Hispanic populations in the US have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, having higher rates of death than the population average documented during the first wave of the pandemic.1 Uptake of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines was slower and remains lower for Black people than for Asian, Hispanic, or White people.2 Numerous factors affect vaccination uptake. People may choose not to get vaccinated or may be willing to get vaccinated but face barriers including transportation and language, as well as the inability to take time off work.3 Improving vaccine uptake and achieving vaccine equity maybe particularly challenging in the US because it requires coordinating across federal and state public health infrastructures, instead of operating a single centralized vaccine delivery system, as in the UK.4We compared the rates of COVID-19 first dose and first booster vaccinations over time among eligible Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White people in the US (exhibits 1 and 2). All references to boosters include only the first COVID-19 booster dose.Despite efforts at the federal, state, and local levels to dismantle barriers and foster vaccine confidence,3'5'6 vaccination uptake for all groups remains low and is lowest among Black people. Although Hispanic people have the highest uptake for the first dose, their booster uptake is among the lowest. These disparities suggest that additional resources may be needed to mitigate inequities for the Black community and that booster-specific outreach may benefit Hispanic communities.

• Publisher: The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE
• Subject: Asian cultural groups / Asian people / Black people / COVID-19 / COVID-19 vaccines / Cultural differences / Disease control / Disease prevention / Dosage / Ethnic differences / Ethnic factors / Ethnicity / Health care access / Hispanic people / Immunization / Inequality / Latin American cultural groups / Minority & ethnic groups / Mortality rates / Pandemics / Population / Prevention / Public health / Race / Racial differences / Racial inequality / Social services delivery / Uptake / Vaccines / White people