The numbers across the nation tell a similar story. The number of people getting Covid-19 has been coming down at a fast pace across the U.S. But the percentages of hospitalized Covid-19 patients among Black and Latino communities remain very high.

Take the case of North Carolina. Black people account for only 17 percent of vaccinations while they make up 23 percent of the state’s population and had 8 percent of vaccinations but they comprise 10 percent of the population. [https://www.cbs17.com/community/health/coronavirus/as-overall-covid-hospital-numbers-shrink-share-of-black-latino-patients-climbs-to-near-pandemic-highs/]

According to the Bloomberg Tracker, many states are lagging in vaccinating Black and Hispanic people, despite a greater supply of vaccines across the country. The latest figures say that fewer than half of states have vaccinated at least a third of their Black populations. [https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/us-vaccine-demographics.html]

The inequities are because of complex reasons, say experts. These could range from because of tight work schedules young Black and Latino people not having enough time on their hands to stand in lines to get vaccinated to lack of medical resources in underserved communities. Some also say that states could not convince reluctant residents that the vaccine was for free and that vaccine won’t affect immigration status. National Guards in front of vaccine centers are said to be deterring many Latinos fearing immigration-related questions. [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/26/989962041/why-black-and-latino-people-still-lag-on-covid-vaccines-and-how-to-fix-it]

Some also fear the post-vaccination complications which may be mild. But they may risk losing on a few days of work because of that. With various states announcing incentives and lotteries for those getting vaccinated, the trend could change, say some.

Read more:

A news report on the issue:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/12/black-latino-left-behind-covid-19-vaccines

Why the youngest among Latino and Black Communities reluctant:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-04/youngest-black-and-latino-residents-far-less-likely-to-be-vaccinated-in-l-a-county

An analysis of vaccination rates in Blacks and Latinos:
https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210520/racial-disparities-persist-in-vaccinations-cdc-data-shows