Vaccine Equity | Creating Partnerships
Black Communities: Black and African American people have the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of all racial and ethnic groups.
- Vaccination percentages for Black Louisianans are now higher than for their white counterparts at 51.8%.
- Continued need to address vaccine confidence within some Black communities.
Hispanic and Latino Communities: Louisiana Hispanics and Latinos have one of the highest vaccination rates for the initial vaccination series of all racial and ethnic groups.
Tribal Communities: Tribal communities in Louisiana have one of the lowest mortality rates for COVID-19.
White Communities: White people in Louisiana have the second lowest full vaccination rate of the five racial/ethnic groups enumerated.
- Strong ideological opposition to COVID vaccines is prevalent in this population.
- Trusted messengers who can address and overcome this opposition are greatly needed.
Rural Communities: Rural Louisiana residents are more likely to experience a number of barriers to health, including (but not limited to), lower socioeconomic status, limited transportation options, inadequate community infrastructure, lack of educational access, and limited healthcare options.
People With Disabilities: For COVID-19 vaccines, people with disabilities have lower vaccine rates despite having less vaccine hesitancy. They are more likely to report difficulty getting vaccinated because of:
- Inaccessible registration process and websites
- Locations in inaccessible buildings or far from public transportation
- Lack of accommodations on site
- Inconsistent vaccine prioritization
- These individuals also are more likely to smoke, and to have diabetes, heart disease, and/or obesity, all of which lead to a higher risk of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.
People Experiencing Homelessness: A July 2021 review of 25 communities nationwide found that people experiencing homelessness (PEH) with COVID-19 had a 30% higher risk of death than the overall population.
People Who Use Drugs: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at greater risk for severe morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 due to comorbidity, chronic medical conditions and structural inequities associated with housing instability and incarceration.