Black and Hispanic people are getting the monkeypox vaccine at lower rates despite making up a significant portion of cases, according to health officials.
In a recent briefing on Friday, the White House reported that Black people made up just 10% of those getting vaccinated for the disease while Hispanic people made up 22% and white people made up 47%. Overall, according to the latest data released by the CDC, out of 201, 265 citizens vaccinated in 17 different states and two cities, only 19,755 Black Americans have gotten their first dose starting from June when the vaccines were first administered in larger numbers.
To increase vaccination rates and combat the rising cases, health experts suggest that the CDC and other officials do a better job at reaching out to communities through grassroots and offering culturally sensitive information.
Nonprofit organizations are also demanding that top officials also make an attempt to address health disparities and mistreatment amongst the medical world. In a new report by the Pew Research Center, 56% of Black Americans surveyed reported that they have had a minimum of one negative encounter with medical officials where they’ve been subjected to treatment with less respect than other patients and have felt the need to be more vocal to get the proper care.
“Given the early evidence of racial and ethnic disparities in monkeypox vaccine administration, CDC remains committed to reducing the impact of health disparities by collaborating with jurisdictions on provision of educational materials and promotion of equitable access to monkeypox vaccines,” said the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, in the briefing. “We’re also working with communities to provide vaccine and harm reduction education at large events attended by groups at highest risk for monkeypox right now.”
Currently, the U.S. in general has recorded the most cases of monkeypox out of any country; out of 48,844 cases around the world, approximately 37% have been recorded in the U.S. with cases currently totaling up to 18,101, according to the CDC.
Of these cases, about 33% of the patients were identified as members of the Black community; the new percentage marks a 14% increase in cases amongst the community following a momentary decline at the beginning of July. With the recently reported statistics, Black Americans have officially been identified as the group with the most cases out of any ethnicity or race.
Often inaccurately labeled as a disease that’s affecting only the LGBTQ+ community, monkeypox can be spread to anyone regardless of sexual orientation as it can be acquired through close contact with bodily fluids, scabs and sores.
Symptoms of monkeypox include rashes, fevers, chills, exhaustion, headaches, muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory problems, according to the CDC.
