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Changing the Narrative: Structural Barriers and Racial and Ethnic Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination

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  • Anuli Njoku

    (Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University, 144 Farnham Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515, USA)

  • Marcelin Joseph

    (Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University, 144 Farnham Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515, USA
    Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program, 1470 Barnum Avenue, Suite 301, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA)

  • Rochelle Felix

    (Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University, 144 Farnham Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515, USA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Although a promising solution of the COVID-19 vaccination offers hope, disparities in access again threaten the health of these communities. Various explanations have arisen for the cause of disparate vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minorities, including discussion of vaccine hesitancy. Conversely, the role of vaccine accessibility rooted in structural racism as a driver in these disparities should be further explored. This paper discusses the impact of structural barriers on racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We also recommend public health, health system, and community-engaged approaches to reduce racial disparities in COVID-19 disease and mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Anuli Njoku & Marcelin Joseph & Rochelle Felix, 2021. "Changing the Narrative: Structural Barriers and Racial and Ethnic Inequities in COVID-19 Vaccination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9904-:d:639589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Jones, C.P., 2000. "Levels of racism: A theoretic framework and a gardener's tale," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(8), pages 1212-1215.
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    Cited by:

    1. Meghana Desai & Anuli Njoku & Lillian Nimo-Sefah, 2022. "Comparing Environmental Policies to Reduce Pharmaceutical Pollution and Address Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Anuli Njoku & Marian Evans, 2022. "Black Women Faculty and Administrators Navigating COVID-19, Social Unrest, and Academia: Challenges and Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Ruby Mendenhall & Jong Cheol Shin & Florence Adibu & Malina Marlyn Yago & Rebecca Vandewalle & Andrew Greenlee & Diana S. Grigsby-Toussaint, 2023. "Lessons (Not) Learned: Chicago Death Inequities during the 1918 Influenza and COVID-19 Pandemics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Zhang, Zhiwei & Liu, Gao & Chen, Bin & Huang, Kun, 2022. "Social asset or social liability? How partisanship moderates the relationship between social capital and Covid-19 vaccination rates across United States counties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    5. Galetsi, Panagiota & Katsaliaki, Korina & Kumar, Sameer, 2022. "The medical and societal impact of big data analytics and artificial intelligence applications in combating pandemics: A review focused on Covid-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).

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