COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, by Race and Ethnicity — North Carolina, December 14, 2020–April 6, 2021

• Published in: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2021-07, Vol.70 (28), p.991-996
• Main Authors: Wong, Charlene A., Dowler, Shannon, Moore, Amanda Fuller, Sosne, Erin Fry, Young, Hayley, Tenenbaum, Jessica D., Burns, Cardra E., Jones, Sydney, Smelyanskaya, Marina, Kinsley, Kody H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accountability; African Americans; Black people; Censuses; Community organizations; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Ethnicity; Full Report; Hispanic people; Immunization; Minority & ethnic groups; Public health; Social service; Vaccination; Vaccines
• ISSN: 0149-2195; 1545-861X
• DOI: 10.15585/MMWR.MM7028A2

What is already known about this topic? COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black or African American and Hispanic communities. What is added by this report? Among persons vaccinated during March 29–April 6, 2021, compared with December 14, 2020–January 3, 2021, in North Carolina, the proportion who were Black nearly doubled, and the share of vaccine doses administered to Hispanic persons doubled during this period, approaching the proportion of the state population for these groups aged ≥16 years. What are the implications for public health practice? To promote equitable vaccination coverage, public health officials could consider using U.S. Census tract-level mapping to guide vaccine allocation, promote shared accountability for equitable distribution of vaccines with providers through data sharing, and facilitate community partnerships to support vaccine access.