Black Vaccination Rates Moving in The Right Direction
IT News Wire
Black Wednesdays COVID-19 – The Los Angeles County Public Health Department reported 181 new Covid-19 cases among Blacks (down by 224) over the last week. The County also recorded 16 deaths among Blacks since last Tuesday (up by 09 souls). In Los Angeles County the total number of diagnosed Black cases are 46,322 with 1,872 deaths. Black Women Rally for Action – Los Angeles County mourns with all the family members, friends, and individuals who experienced losses and illness.
COVID-19 RATES
Los Angeles Country Black Covid-19 cases were significantly lower than the spring plateau with an average in the mid-400s. If the downward turn continues, the rates will reach the lowest weekly new case rates reported last year before each surge. Black deaths double over the week and may be a lagging indicator of the previous high case rates. Two or three weeks after the Memorial Day weekend will provide indication on any new trends.
COVID-19 VACCINES
As of May 21, 2021, Blacks and Latinos were the only populations that had not achieved at least a 50% vaccination rate among county residents who had received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (40.3% and 47.3% respectively). There was no racial/ethnic vaccination data available for 12-year-olds and older on the County data dashboard as of May 26, 2021.
The “vaccine-hesitant” label = stigma, shaming, and blaming. Blacks who are unvaccinated have various reasons why they have not been vaccinated and culturally appropriate outreach strategies need to match those barriers. Last night two local news casts labeled residents as vaccine-hesitant. Both stories referred to the drain on resources needed to reach the unvaccinated and that they may be responsible for the delay in reopening. What we know about America is that when some residents believe someone is a burden to others, they are less likely to show compassion and community support for them may wean.
During the Memorial Day Weekend, Black Women Rally for Action urges residents to follow the CDC mask guidance for the unvaccinated: Masks should still be worn in addition to staying at least 6 feet apart, especially when indoors around people who do not live in your household.
The fully vaccinated should follow at minimum the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s guidance for the fully vaccinated:
1. Visit indoors with a small number of other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or physically distancing;
2. Visit indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household without wearing masks or physical distancing, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19; and
3. Travel, provided they take precautions described in the LA County travel advisory; http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/vaccine/AfterFullyVaccinated.pdf
Trust your judgement and stay safe!
Black Women Rally for Action – Los Angeles County is a coalition of individuals and groups who provide a mechanism for Los Angeles County Black women to advocate on behalf of their health and well-being. The coalition, which does not accept government grant funding, is dedicated to advancing health, economic, and social equity for all Los Angeles County Black women through direct action and connection to effective resources. In April 2020, the group launched a COVID-19 social media outreach campaign to prevent and reduce Covid-19 impact in the Black community.
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Efuru Flowers
Co-Chair, Black Women Rally for Action – Los Angeles County
Helena Johnson
Co-Chair, Black Women Rally for Action – Los Angeles County
Brenda Watson
Co-Chair, Black Women Rally for Action – Los Angeles County
