Seattle hospital cancels appointments on the Covid-19 vaccine after equality concerns

by

“Shortly after releasing appointments, we decided that we needed broader communication with the wider public of available vaccine appointments because we want to achieve the widest possible reach,” the hospital said in a statement to CNN on Thursday.

People hoping to be vaccinated signed up Tuesday through MyChart, an online account used by people with an existing patient relationship with the hospital. But some health care providers in Washington State have been criticized in recent weeks for first reporting the availability of vaccines to people with a history of the facility.

The demand for vaccines is outstripping supply in most states, and officials say the already limited distribution is not making its way into the black and Latino communities proportionately. As the demand for more production and administration grows, some organizations are also working to ensure that doses become more evenly available.
New York officials plan to redouble efforts to resolve racial disparities in vaccination coverage

Government Jay Inslee reiterated at a press conference on Thursday that health care providers should not give preference to people when applying for vaccine appointments.

“It’s just wrong to offer a special privilege in this regard,” said Inslee. “Everyone deserves fair access to this vaccine.”

Seattle Children’s has notified people affected by the cancellations and will be offering future appointments through its public website.

Several states grapple with the issue of equality in vaccine distribution.

In Mississippi, state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs on Thursday that there were barriers for some residents.

“We find that barriers exist, similar to our pre-existing inequality barriers that have existed for decades, and they will be no different for coronavirus vaccination than for access to health care for any other reason,” he said. .

Black Americans make up 37% of the state’s population, but represent only 19% of those who have received the vaccine.

“That’s a huge problem,” said Dobbs.

Dobbs noted that the drive-thru sites have helped nearly 40% of people over 75, and nearly 30% of people over 65 get their first dose in Mississippi.

“Those numbers will pay really big dividends in the future, not just in mortality, but also in hospitalization,” he said. “But if we don’t also have a parallel focus on addressing health inequalities, we won’t really get the health benefits we hope to achieve.”

CNN’s Lauren Mascaren contributed to this report.

.Source