3 minute read
COVID-19 and minority communities
WRITTEN BY CLARISA CALLEJAS
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As we endure a new year, we can reflect on what has arguably been the most brutal two years most of us have ever encountered. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has posed ongoing challenges that we, as healthcare providers, have had to face daily. It began with simply trying to understand COVID-19 and identifying ways we can prevent the spread. That expanded to formulating and approving vaccines and then identifying treatments to those who have been most affected by the virus. Although we have come a long way from where we started, COVID-19 has impacted minority communities at a massive disproportion to the rest of the population. Improper communication, poor accessibility, and lack of education and information created yet another divergency minority communities have had face.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), minority groups pose a higher-than-average risk for contracting COVID-19. Minority communities usually refer to American Indian or Alaskan Natives, Asians, Black or African Americans, and Hispanic or
Latinos. American Indians alone are 2.2 times more likely to die and 3.3 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19. When combining each minority, they are on average 1.8 times more likely to die and 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalized. It is hard to fathom why this is happening at such disproportional rates. Further investigation has allowed researchers to identify the most probable causes contributing to this outcome. Education and information surrounding the virus and vaccine has not been well transmitted. Many news sources and social media platforms have spread their own misinformation which has caused panic within the population. People are scared and understandably so. This fear of both the virus and vaccine has bestowed skepticism and doubt among those who are most vulnerable.
Concurrently, minorities lack of access to health care, testing, and vaccines has contributed to the divide. Many of these communities tend to be in areas where the quality of care is not affordable or accessible. Though the vaccines and testing can come at no charge at multiple facilities, many people are unaware there are free resources. The Census reported in 2017 that for the last several decades Blacks and Hispanics have been in the lowest economic status compared to all other ethnic and racial groups. Lower income means less access to things such as transportation. When people don ’t have transportation their obstacle to obtaining testing kits, vaccines, or treatments diminishes yet again. Lower income, lack of transportation, and misinformation/ misinterpretation has led people in minority communities to have worse outcomes from COVID-19 than other populations.
What can we as healthcare providers do to help close this gap in care? Pharmacists are known to be one of the most trusted healthcare providers and are often highly accessible to the public. By simply going to work to answer questions and concerns, we can help better protect our minority communities. As pharmacy students, we gain extensive knowledge on the importance of vaccines and their effectiveness on viruses. For those of us who work in a community setting, we can be additional support, providing education to those who need it most. Although, it is ultimately our patients decision on how they go about their healthcare, we can be a valuable resource of trusted information. Together, by providing education, information, and administration of vaccines, we can help our minority communities fight COVID-19.
https://theconversation.com/anti-vaxxers-are-weaponising-the-vaccine-hesitancy-of-black-communities-153836
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