Ensuring Equity in Coronavirus Vaccinations

Washington, D.C. (February 16, 2021) — On Friday, February 19, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. ET, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, chaired by Rep. James E. Clyburn, will hold a video briefing with public health experts to examine the steps that must be taken to ensure coronavirus vaccinations are administered equitably.

Under the Trump Administration, the early vaccine rollout advantaged wealthier communities over communities of color, low-income communities, and rural communities, even though members of these communities are contracting and dying from the coronavirus at disproportionate rates.

The Biden Administration has already taken critical steps to increase equity in vaccines, including sending doses to Community Health Centers.  Congress must build on this progress by passing the President’s American Rescue Plan, which will fund a comprehensive national vaccination campaign that includes community vaccination centers and mobile vaccination sites to reach underserved communities, as well as provide funds for public health departments to hire 100,000 public health workers whose duties will include vaccine outreach.  This briefing will address these and other steps that must be taken to ensure vulnerable communities receive equitable access to vaccines and to combat vaccine hesitancy in these communities.