Black and Hispanic people more likely to get monkeypox but less likely to get vaccinated

Festival Organizers Vaccinate Against Monkeypox, but Disparities Persist

In light of the escalating monkeypox outbreak, Atlanta festival organizers saw an opportunity to protect their community by offering vaccinations before the event. As festival-goer Melissa Scott explained, they also provided Covid-19 vaccines on-site. The monkeypox vaccine, which requires two doses for full effectiveness, was an ideal chance to reach a significant portion of the population most affected by the outbreak.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 20,000 presumed or confirmed monkeypox cases had surfaced in the United States by late August. While the virus can infect anyone, the outbreak disproportionately affected homosexual, bisexual, and other men who had sex with men. No group suffered as severely as the Black and Hispanic communities.

In fact, almost 38% of the monkeypox cases occurred within the Black population, which represented just 12% of the U.S. population. Hispanics/Latinos, on the other hand, made up 19% of the U.S. population but accounted for 29% of the cases, as reported by the CDC.

Unsurprisingly, some cities with high monkeypox case counts saw overrepresentation of Black and Hispanic individuals among those affected and underrepresentation among those vaccinated. In Philadelphia, 55% of the monkeypox cases were Black, while only 56% of the vaccinations went to that demographic. Meanwhile, only 15% of the vaccinated individuals in Houston were Black, despite 21% of the cases being Hispanic/Latino.

Public health officials have recognized the importance of addressing these disparities, acknowledging that the same patterns have emerged during numerous public health crises. However, efforts to improve equity in monkeypox vaccine distribution have been hampered by various barriers.

For instance, healthcare experts have pointed out logistical challenges and inconsistencies in the allocation and distribution of vaccines. Sean Cahill, director of health policy research at the Fenway Institute, expressed frustration over the hurdles that have been placed in the way of vaccination initiatives. In his opinion, the CDC's release of Spanish-language vaccine forms months after releasing the English versions was one such obstacle, given that many non-English speakers and those without access to computers or printers were denied assistance.

Moreover, critiques have emerged that the Biden administration has not been adequately responsive to the monkeypox crisis, particularly in communities of color. Daniel Driffin, an HIV patient advocate, has argued that public health officials need to involve Black and Brown organizations in vaccine distribution strategies to reduce disparities.

Chyke Doubeni, Chief Health Equity Officer at Ohio State University, underscored the historical importance of health equity in affecting institutional racism, social, and economic factors that leave marginalized communities with fewer resources. He explained that individuals in these communities should not be deterred from seeking medical care, even for conditions as stigmatized as monkeypox.

Despite these challenges, various outreach efforts have begun to yield positive results in addressing monkeypox disparities. In Fulton County, Georgia, collaboration between local health departments and community organizations has led to more conscientious vaccination distribution. As a result, Black individuals received nearly 70% of the monkeypox vaccines administered in the county.

These strides in health equity come as the Biden administration has announced a commitment to directing resources towards the communities most affected by monkeypox. This includes sending vaccine doses to organizations serving Black and Brown communities, setting up vaccination clinics at large LGBTQ+ events, and establishing pop-up clinics at smaller gatherings.

As the fight against monkeypox continues, addressing the underlying disparities and oppressive structures that have long exacerbated health inequities will remain a crucial challenge. Addressing these concerns can ensure that all communities receive equitable access to the tools necessary to keep themselves safe.

References:

1. Patterson, H. (2022). With monkeypox spreading, experts increasingly concerned about disparities in vaccination. CNN.
2. Sneed, S. (2022). Health disparities coupled with extra hurdles face LGBTQ+ people of color in monkeypox battle. CNN.
3. CDC (2022). Human Monkeypox: MMWR.

Enrichment Data:

Monkeypox has posed various challenges associated with health equity, leading to disparities in vaccination and infection rates among Black and Hispanic communities in the United States. These disparities can be linked to historical distrust of healthcare systems, social and economic factors, and barriers to reliable and timely information about the vaccine.

1. Historical Distrust:
2. Histories of medical experimentation and unequal treatment in healthcare systems have left communities of color with mistrustful attitudes toward public health initiatives.
3. Social and Economic Factors:
4. Limited access to reliable and timely information, in addition to structural constraints on social mobility, greatly affect the ability of marginalized communities to protect themselves against infectious diseases like monkeypox.

Implications for Addressing Disparities:

Healthcare systems and public health officials can take several actions to address these inequities and ensure that all communities receive equitable access to vaccines and information:

1. Collaboration:
2. Engage with trusted healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and marginalized communities to identify and address barriers to vaccination.
3. Personalized Outreach:
4. Utilize tailored education campaigns and materials to address misinformation and share accurate information about the vaccine, particularly through local languages and culturally relevant materials.
5. Building Trust:
6. Invest time in building trust within marginalized communities, ensuring that their voices and needs are heard throughout the monkeypox response effort.
7. Addressing Institutional Racism:
8. Eliminate systemic biases within the public health system, allowing for equitable delivery of services, including reliable and timely information about the vaccine.

By addressing these issues, healthcare systems and public officials can work towards reducing disparities in monkeypox vaccination and infection rates, ensuring that safety is accessible to all communities.