This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.
Once again, a great ProPublica article…
One would think that if all the rednecks are against the vaccine, that POC would be for it. I’ve given up trying to figure out how peoples thought processes go.
If you make their employment dependent on being vaccinated, they’ll switch up in a heartbeat.
It’s just sad that people are more afraid of the vaccine than a deadly virus. Crazy that even offering gift cards won’t get them to come in.
Yes it’s sad but I have no patience with any of it anymore.
I would assume most POC like most Whites and others aren’t plugged into the political news of the day and following vax uptake stories. The TPM article mentioned the main reasons why POC are resisting the vaccine:
Experts connect low vaccination rates in majority Black communities like Clayton County with widespread mistrust of government and medical institutions, borne from historic discrimination and ongoing health disparities disproportionately impacting residents.
If only Black Lives Mattered to black people.
From what I understand, that has been the case for a very long time re: distrust of medical institutions. But, what person, no matter their race, creed, etc says, “I’m not big on medicine”? Not big on it until you need it I guess. Assuming you don’t die first?
People in cultures that are historically closed or semi-closed to outsiders will follow their own traditions.
How many Jewish mothers served chicken soup as a cure-all when their kids got sick because that’s what their mother did, instead of immediately taking them to a doctor? There was a closed community of Russian immigrants at the southwest WA border who started a measles outbreak a few years ago, because they didn’t want their kids vaccinated against measles. This was pre-Covid.
PleASe reference MY vERY poignant POST whICH is both SHADow BANNEd and CanceLLED.
One would think that the head of the list of groups who don’t trust the government vis-a-vis infectious diseases would be Native Americans. But the tribes have a really good vaccination rate.
This poll was from a year ago. What apparently isn’t taken into account is education level.
Belief in a fair distribution of vaccine also increased from 9/20 to 12/20 (owing to election results?)
It would be nice to find other, more recent, non-anecdotal sources of vaccine hesitancy claims, but I have other thongs I need to do.
WeLL the TuskeGEE syphaLLIS study, A lesser KNOWn simiLAR syphaLLIS study out of Johns Hopkins (which PAID participants $50), DOCs prescribing PAIn medications at LOWer rates becauSE blackS don’t Experience PAIn the samE way (WHich is why IT was OK to WHIP slavEs). Other unequaL TREatment by medical PRofessionals.
In some ways, this county is an outlier. Data from other predominantly AA communities show vaccine uptake rose once trusted messengers (community-based organizations and faith leaders) got involved and is equal or nearly the same as among whites, with one exception, white Republicans. African Americans are more likely to get vaccinated than white Goopers. So, let’s place blame equitably, perhaps?
Here are the most recent CDC data by race/ethnicity. AAs are outperforming whites.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccination-demographics-trends
That’s interesting about the Native American vax uptake. If they’re seeing mostly other tribal doctors and nurses in their clinics, then it may be a factor in trusting information. I don’t know if that’s the case, just speculation. People trust “their own” when it comes to information about illness.
People in disadvantaged Black communities may not be seeing doctors they trust. It’s why a lot of the health department outreach has been through Black church pastors and ministers.
I don’t know if that’s the case either. But I am pretty sure it wasn’t in Dallas County because this county bent over backwards right from the start to try to get medical services to underserved communities and to convince African Americans to get vaccinated.
As far as who vaxxed the tribes goes, I don’t know who did it either, but the Pueblos I think are fine with anyone administering the vaccine. I think - I don’t know that for sure but people from Taos Pueblo work at the hospital.
My nephew finally got his second Pfizer on Friday. He fainted after his first one in May and is deathly afraid of needles. He’s an orphan so I went with him and had my hand on his shoulder when he got the jab. He’s a 6’3" 230 pound construction worker. I think most of this reluctance is simply phobic and it takes patience and family love to get passed it.
I think most of it is political. The people not getting jabbed now are mostly white GOP.
Hmmm, 2 of the top 4 groups have historically poor access to healthcare.
Shocked and dismayed at the 33% from essential workers. FFS.
