Since the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization of the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, more than two million children have been vaccinated. Public health officials are highlighting the importance of providing vaccines to low income and minority communities that have been hit hardest by COVID. Stephanie Sy visited one of those communities in Phoenix, Arizona.
The gap between white and Latino vaccination rates has been shrinking in the U.S. But gains have been uneven, and in Arizona, there’s still a major disparity between the demographics.
Maricopa County COVID-19 vaccine map shows glaring disparities between wealthy and lower income ZIP codes
121.8% of eligible people in the 85256 Scottsdale ZIP code have received a vaccine compared to just 14.8% in the 85009 south Phoenix ZIP code. Author: Josh Sanders (KPNX) Updated: 8:30 PM MST February 12, 2021
PHOENIX Healthcare workers at Mountain Park Health Center (MPHC) across Arizona know the people living in the communities they serve by name.
“We are in the community, we have the relationships with the patients, said Director of Equity, Diversity and Engagement at MPHC Janey Pearl Starks. There is already trust there. We know some people may still have hesitancy with the vaccine. It s much different if someone you know and trust and has been talking to you for years and now they recommend the vaccine.