As vaccine distribution increases, reaching specific populations becomes more difficult

ORLANDO, Fla. — More than a million Floridians have already received both the 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Another 1.2 million have received at least the first dose. The problem right now is demand is outpacing supply, but that should change by the spring and early summer.

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“Every time we’ve had a new treatment, new vaccine, or any other issue along those lines, there’s always been a part of population that’s been marginalized where the treatment is not available really to them or information about them is not available to them,” says Dr. Rhonda Medows, the President of Population Health Management at Providence Health Systems. “The vaccine itself is not magically going to be accepted. It takes work, relationships and dignity.”

Dr. Medows Points to a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation showing just 9% of Black respondents said they wanted the vaccine “as soon as possible” with 15% of Hispanic respondents saying the same thing.

Outreach to these groups about the vaccine, answering questions about its safety and side effects will become even more important as distribution increases.

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“A lot has been made about vaccine hesitancy and hesitancy is really just on the flip side more about gaining trust and talking to people in a dignified manner and answering their questions not in a dismissive manner,” says Dr. Medows. “If you think about the things that have contributed to health disparities for decades, if not centuries, they are still present.”

Cox Media Group