Racial Disparities In Vaccine Distribution In Buffalo Is Being Noticed

There is no question that the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been slower than many people would like it to be. Residents in the Black and Brown communities have had a lot to contend with as it relates to the vaccine, from trusting what the government is saying about it, and now, being last to receive it.

According to WGRZ, the state and the federal government is working to improve their respective vaccine rollouts, there is new data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that was released this week that shows a stark look at the disparity among different racial and ethnic groups.

The pandemic has really magnified and exposed in many cases the deficiencies in, especially black and brown communities.

said, Pastor William Gillison of Mount Olive Baptist Church In Buffalo according to WGRZ.

Credit: WGRZ

Just recently, Governor Andrew Cuomo's office announced 35 pop-up vaccination sites, including five in Western New York. The sites are located in many Black, Brown, Latino, and Asian communities. The CDC recently reported, of the 13 million Americans between December and January 14 who were vaccinated for COVID-19, 60 percent were White non-Hispanic individuals.

According to WGRZ, Pastor William Gillison said, 300 or so already registered individuals will be vaccinated at Mount Olive Baptist Church, which is a step in the right direction, but there is a larger list of Black, Brown, and Latino Americans still waiting. Pastor Gillison, also mentioned that he is "grateful to see the light at the end of the tunnel", but he also knows that there is still work to be done.