Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities

Medical students Kaitlynn Esemaya, Anamaria Ancheta, and Annique McLune discuss their article, "Why vaccine access still fails America's most vulnerable groups." They highlight how social determinants of health drive pervasive inequities in vaccination rates among marginalized U.S. communities, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kaitlynn, Alexis, and Annique cite CDC data showing updated COVID-19 vaccine uptake for Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults at 8 percent, nearly half that of white adults (15 percent) for 2023–2024. This disparity extends to other vaccines like HPV and influenza, with poverty being a key factor. The discussion covers the post-pandemic drop in childhood vaccinations due to access barriers like lack of insurance and provider shortages, particularly in rural areas. They also touch on HPV vaccine disparities, where only 76 percent of U.S. children received one dose by 2022, and varying awareness levels, such as only 40 percent of adults with less than a high school education being aware of HPV compared to 78 percent of college graduates. Kaitlynn, Alexis, and Annique point to the resurgence of measles, with 301 U.S. cases by March 2025, and address the critical issues of vaccine hesitancy, medical mistrust, and misinformation, noting that these challenges even affect health care workers. The conversation emphasizes the need for increased education, public promotion of vaccinations, and improved access to address these persistent failures.

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