Equity in vaccine distribution

[Anonymous]

You know folks, there is a middle ground between "make vaccine distribution decisions based entirely on race," and "ignore the fact that wealthy white people are vastly more likely to get the vaccine, despite being vastly less likely to suffer its consequences."

Better outreach, education, and planning by political leaders and public health officials can go a long way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know folks, there is a middle ground between "make vaccine distribution decisions based entirely on race," and "ignore the fact that wealthy white people are vastly more likely to get the vaccine, despite being vastly less likely to suffer its consequences."

Better outreach, education, and planning by political leaders and public health officials can go a long way.

I'm guessing a lot of wealthy black people in the city got it too (as compared to not wealthy black people).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like whatever method they are using for equity is not working, at least in Ward 4. When I went to get my vaccine there was a long line of people. Very few were POC. In fact the majority of POC who were there were the security guards. And this is at a community center on Kennedy St. My guess is white people in the prioritized zip codes are still signing up for the vaccine slots first. Anecdotal evidence, but I suspect it is happening in other areas as well.

How recently was this? The first senior vaccines were given four weeks ago so seniors getting vaccines this week might be getting their second doses (as they got their first before the equity measures were put into affect)

You should care more about the age of the folks in line. Not the color of their skin.

Considering that black and brown people are dying from COVID at a significantly higher rate, then you should take the color of one's skin into consideration.

Black and brown people are not dying because of the color of their skin. [b]They are dying because of health conditions - obesity, pulmonary disease, diabetes.
The DMV attributes these conditions to skin color. They are not.
Take a long hard look in this country - these conditions exist for all walks of people and in greater numbers.

So, no - 65 and up was the marker - not 65 and Black.

There is actually a much more important nuance to this - Black people are contracting and dying of the virus because 1) of the neighborhood/community conditions that most Black folks live in are vastly under-resourced (poor access to healthcare and quality foods, unhealthy air, water, general stressful living) 2) the jobs Black folks have are as front-line workers putting them in contact with the public, and 3) poverty (see #1) and I could probably keep going on this list but the point I'm trying to make is there are multiple factors that go way beyond the health status of individuals - there are community and environmental factors that contribute to this and many of these factors root from racist policies.

Also in some communities, the vaccine is just not getting to people of color. I just read an article about Jefferson County, AL many of the wealthy whites in that community have received the vaccine and it has had little penetration in Black communities and it is NOT because Black people don't want the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like whatever method they are using for equity is not working, at least in Ward 4. When I went to get my vaccine there was a long line of people. Very few were POC. In fact the majority of POC who were there were the security guards. And this is at a community center on Kennedy St. My guess is white people in the prioritized zip codes are still signing up for the vaccine slots first. Anecdotal evidence, but I suspect it is happening in other areas as well.

How recently was this? The first senior vaccines were given four weeks ago so seniors getting vaccines this week might be getting their second doses (as they got their first before the equity measures were put into affect)

You should care more about the age of the folks in line. Not the color of their skin.

Considering that black and brown people are dying from COVID at a significantly higher rate, then you should take the color of one's skin into consideration.

Black and brown people are not dying because of the color of their skin. [b]They are dying because of health conditions - obesity, pulmonary disease, diabetes.
The DMV attributes these conditions to skin color. They are not.
Take a long hard look in this country - these conditions exist for all walks of people and in greater numbers.

So, no - 65 and up was the marker - not 65 and Black.

There is actually a much more important nuance to this - Black people are contracting and dying of the virus because 1) of the neighborhood/community conditions that most Black folks live in are vastly under-resourced (poor access to healthcare and quality foods, unhealthy air, water, general stressful living) 2) the jobs Black folks have are as front-line workers putting them in contact with the public, and 3) poverty (see #1) and I could probably keep going on this list but the point I'm trying to make is there are multiple factors that go way beyond the health status of individuals - there are community and environmental factors that contribute to this and many of these factors root from racist policies.

Also in some communities, the vaccine is just not getting to people of color. I just read an article about Jefferson County, AL many of the wealthy whites in that community have received the vaccine and it has had little penetration in Black communities and it is NOT because Black people don't want the vaccine.

Any fraud/artificial hurdles in distribution should be investigated (if that is what you are saying is going on, since black people in Jefferson County want but can't get the vaccine?). I think there should be hearings in DC on why in our 50% black city, 1/2 the vaccine is being distributed over the border.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like whatever method they are using for equity is not working, at least in Ward 4. When I went to get my vaccine there was a long line of people. Very few were POC. In fact the majority of POC who were there were the security guards. And this is at a community center on Kennedy St. My guess is white people in the prioritized zip codes are still signing up for the vaccine slots first. Anecdotal evidence, but I suspect it is happening in other areas as well.

How recently was this? The first senior vaccines were given four weeks ago so seniors getting vaccines this week might be getting their second doses (as they got their first before the equity measures were put into affect)

You should care more about the age of the folks in line. Not the color of their skin.

Considering that black and brown people are dying from COVID at a significantly higher rate, then you should take the color of one's skin into consideration.

Black and brown people are not dying because of the color of their skin. [b]They are dying because of health conditions - obesity, pulmonary disease, diabetes.
The DMV attributes these conditions to skin color. They are not.
Take a long hard look in this country - these conditions exist for all walks of people and in greater numbers.

So, no - 65 and up was the marker - not 65 and Black.

There is actually a much more important nuance to this - Black people are contracting and dying of the virus because 1) of the neighborhood/community conditions that most Black folks live in are vastly under-resourced (poor access to healthcare and quality foods, unhealthy air, water, general stressful living) 2) the jobs Black folks have are as front-line workers putting them in contact with the public, and 3) poverty (see #1) and I could probably keep going on this list but the point I'm trying to make is there are multiple factors that go way beyond the health status of individuals - there are community and environmental factors that contribute to this and many of these factors root from racist policies.

Also in some communities, the vaccine is just not getting to people of color. I just read an article about Jefferson County, AL many of the wealthy whites in that community have received the vaccine and it has had little penetration in Black communities and it is NOT because Black people don't want the vaccine.

Any fraud/artificial hurdles in distribution should be investigated (if that is what you are saying is going on, since black people in Jefferson County want but can't get the vaccine?). I think there should be hearings in DC on why in our 50% black city, 1/2 the vaccine is being distributed over the border.

Hearings? Good lord. They should be focusing on ramping up the pace of vaccinations. I could care less if my checkout clerk or staff at my OB’s office are from PG county or Arlington or wherever, they work in DC and interact with DC residents on a daily basis. Benefits the community at large to have them vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obesity is not a risk factor - it is a life choice - like smoking.

Cancer - risk factor. Autoimmune deficiency - risk factor.

Many cancers have highly increased risk factors based on behavior.

Luckily you have no say in who is prioritized for vaccines whatsoever.

Not to mention that their assessment of obesity is far too simplistic and not science based (see gut biome research).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems like whatever method they are using for equity is not working, at least in Ward 4. When I went to get my vaccine there was a long line of people. Very few were POC. In fact the majority of POC who were there were the security guards. And this is at a community center on Kennedy St. My guess is white people in the prioritized zip codes are still signing up for the vaccine slots first. Anecdotal evidence, but I suspect it is happening in other areas as well.

How recently was this? The first senior vaccines were given four weeks ago so seniors getting vaccines this week might be getting their second doses (as they got their first before the equity measures were put into affect)

You should care more about the age of the folks in line. Not the color of their skin.

Considering that black and brown people are dying from COVID at a significantly higher rate, then you should take the color of one's skin into consideration.

Black and brown people are not dying because of the color of their skin. [b]They are dying because of health conditions - obesity, pulmonary disease, diabetes.
The DMV attributes these conditions to skin color. They are not.
Take a long hard look in this country - these conditions exist for all walks of people and in greater numbers.

So, no - 65 and up was the marker - not 65 and Black.

There is actually a much more important nuance to this - Black people are contracting and dying of the virus because 1) of the neighborhood/community conditions that most Black folks live in are vastly under-resourced (poor access to healthcare and quality foods, unhealthy air, water, general stressful living) 2) the jobs Black folks have are as front-line workers putting them in contact with the public, and 3) poverty (see #1) and I could probably keep going on this list but the point I'm trying to make is there are multiple factors that go way beyond the health status of individuals - there are community and environmental factors that contribute to this and many of these factors root from racist policies.

Also in some communities, the vaccine is just not getting to people of color. I just read an article about Jefferson County, AL many of the wealthy whites in that community have received the vaccine and it has had little penetration in Black communities and it is NOT because Black people don't want the vaccine.

Any fraud/artificial hurdles in distribution should be investigated (if that is what you are saying is going on, since black people in Jefferson County want but can't get the vaccine?). I think there should be hearings in DC on why in our 50% black city, 1/2 the vaccine is being distributed over the border.

Hearings? Good lord. They should be focusing on ramping up the pace of vaccinations. I could care less if my checkout clerk or staff at my OB’s office are from PG county or Arlington or wherever, they work in DC and interact with DC residents on a daily basis. Benefits the community at large to have them vaccinated.

Yes, you've said this many times. Put you on the list for a T'shirt: "I could care less"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

What are you saying? Do you mean the blacks are getting the vaccine first priority even without being High risk like diabetes or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

Just stop. If you don't live in a priority zip code, it's because more vaccine has already gone to the zip code in which you live. Your neighbors already sucked up a larger share of the vaccine, so now all of you can make do with a smaller portion until things even out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

Just stop. If you don't live in a priority zip code, it's because more vaccine has already gone to the zip code in which you live. Your neighbors already sucked up a larger share of the vaccine, so now all of you can make do with a smaller portion until things even out.

That isn’t true. Let’s take my neighborhood. From the DC website, Columbia Heights seniors got 1.2% of the vaccinations so far while Michigan Park seniors got 2.8% of the vaccinations. If you look at the total populations age 18 and above, Columbia Heights got 3.5% and Michigan Park got 4.4% of the vaccinations.

Now here is the kicker, Columbia Heights has the most cases in all of DC and has more than double the number of cases of Michigan Park - 2048 to 961, yet Michigan Park is a priority area and Columbia Heights is not. Please explain why the diverse neighborhood of Colombia Heights is not deserving of vaccinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

Just stop. If you don't live in a priority zip code, it's because more vaccine has already gone to the zip code in which you live. Your neighbors already sucked up a larger share of the vaccine, so now all of you can make do with a smaller portion until things even out. [/quote

That isn’t true. Let’s take my neighborhood. From the DC website, Columbia Heights seniors got 1.2% of the vaccinations so far while Michigan Park seniors got 2.8% of the vaccinations. If you look at the total populations age 18 and above, Columbia Heights got 3.5% and Michigan Park got 4.4% of the vaccinations.

Now here is the kicker, Columbia Heights has the most cases in all of DC and has more than double the number of cases of Michigan Park - 2048 to 961, yet Michigan Park is a priority area and Columbia Heights is not. Please explain why the diverse neighborhood of Colombia Heights is not deserving of


vaccinations.

Well, who are the front line workers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

Just stop. If you don't live in a priority zip code, it's because more vaccine has already gone to the zip code in which you live. Your neighbors already sucked up a larger share of the vaccine, so now all of you can make do with a smaller portion until things even out.

That isn’t true. Let’s take my neighborhood. From the DC website, Columbia Heights seniors got 1.2% of the vaccinations so far while Michigan Park seniors got 2.8% of the vaccinations. If you look at the total populations age 18 and above, Columbia Heights got 3.5% and Michigan Park got 4.4% of the vaccinations.

Now here is the kicker, Columbia Heights has the most cases in all of DC and has more than double the number of cases of Michigan Park - 2048 to 961, yet Michigan Park is a priority area and Columbia Heights is not. Please explain why the diverse neighborhood of Colombia Heights is not deserving of vaccinations.

You are ridiculous. Columbia Heights is Ward 1, which has 23 percent seniors vaccinated, versus Ward 5 which has 14 percent vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The phases are based on jobs and the people who work in the front lines. The phases aren’t based on color.

Last week, almost 2/3 of the doses in DC were reserved for "priority zip codes" based on race. People in these "priority zip codes" were also invited to compete with us for the remaining 1/3 of the doses even though this lot of appointments was the only one available to the rest of us. There can be no question that people in these communities need the vaccines, but the rest of us have family members with serious health problems too. The one day we were allowed to try to register last week left almost all of us empty handed, our families still unprotected, and it certainly left me with the feeling that no one on the City Council is actively representing my family's needs. We do actually need that from the people elected to represent us. This is not a situation where the "privileged" (or even relatively privileged) can get their needs fulfilled through some means other than city services. That's the argument that's used to keep parents with high-achieving students from demanding too much of DCPS, for example, but it doesn't apply here because we can't simply go private or move to Maryland for the vaccine.

Just stop. If you don't live in a priority zip code, it's because more vaccine has already gone to the zip code in which you live. Your neighbors already sucked up a larger share of the vaccine, so now all of you can make do with a smaller portion until things even out.

That isn’t true. Let’s take my neighborhood. From the DC website, Columbia Heights seniors got 1.2% of the vaccinations so far while Michigan Park seniors got 2.8% of the vaccinations. If you look at the total populations age 18 and above, Columbia Heights got 3.5% and Michigan Park got 4.4% of the vaccinations.

Now here is the kicker, Columbia Heights has the most cases in all of DC and has more than double the number of cases of Michigan Park - 2048 to 961, yet Michigan Park is a priority area and Columbia Heights is not. Please explain why the diverse neighborhood of Colombia Heights is not deserving of vaccinations.

You are ridiculous. Columbia Heights is Ward 1, which has 23 percent seniors vaccinated, versus Ward 5 which has 14 percent vaccinated.

The PP stated my neighbors sucked up the vaccinations. My neighbors in Columbia Heights certainly have not as the facts demonstrate and we have had the most cases of any neighborhood by far. Plus they are not giving priority to entire wards, but by neighborhoood zip code. They could easily add the Columbia Heights zip code to address this oversight. Would you be against simply adding Columbia Heights?