Gayle, H. D., & Childress, J. F. (2021).

Race, Racism, and Structural Injustice: Equitable

Allocation and Distribution of Vaccines for the COVID-19. The American journal of

bioethics : AJOB, 21(3), 4–7. Retrieved from

https://doi.org/10.1080/15265161.2021.1877011

Gayle and Childress discuss the inequality when it comes to the distribution and

allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. They believe that people of

color are the ones most disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The disparity

becomes apparent when you compare the rates of infection of SARS-CoV-2 among

people of color to white and non-Hispanic persons. Black Americans on average are 40%

more likely to contract COVID-19 with Latinx Americans 70% more likely and

American Indians the highest being 80% more likely. This is caused largely by social-

economical factors that are the results of racism and structural injustice, rather than

biological factors. Addressing the issues of this class divide and racism is paramount in

order to achieve an equal allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine. (C.T.)

Hunter, K., & Kendall, D. (2020). Equitable and Efficient Distribution of a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Third Way. Retrieved April 14, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25616

The most equitable and efficient way to distribute vaccines is to prioritize vulnerable

groups: front-line workers, seniors, and racial minorities. The best methods to ensure
 proper prioritization are to create a state-based deployment program and establish a

watchdog system per state with the General Accountability Office (GAO). To receive

funding and resources for vaccine distribution, each state should produce distribution

plans to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) specifying

how resources will be distributed among hospitals and minority communities. A

watchdog system will hold states accountable. This article from Hunter (former Health

Care Policy Advisor) and Kendall (Senior Fellow for Health and Fiscal Policy) is for

readers who wish to learn of vaccine equity. Readers who want to explore whether it is

inequity or mistrust of the vaccine that prevents racial minorities from vaccinations

should read Reverby. (T.P.)

Reverby, Susan M. (2021, March 8). Racism, disease, and vaccine refusal: People of color are

dying for access to COVID-19 vaccines. PLoS Biology, 19(3), e3001167–e3001167.

Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001167

A look into the inequitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine by the healthcare

institutions and government agencies serving minority groups. Minority populations are

among the highest segments of the population affected by COVID-19 but are viewed as

being reluctant to receive the vaccine. This article takes the stance that the idea of

“vaccine hesitancy” is a media falsehood and low vaccine numbers are in fact due to low

availability in minority neighborhoods. The source is the highly reputable PLOS Biology

a peer reviewed medical journal published monthly. The author exclusively researches
the American healthcare system provides valuable historic context for the current vaccine

program and its impact on minorities with extensive research in medical experimentation

such as the Tuskegee experiments. (R.N.)