Fair Shot? Does COVID Vaccine Availability Ensure Equity?

The vaccine rollout so far has shown us that the process has been all but equitable for some of the most vulnerable populations. According to newly posted CDC data, more than half of all American adults have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, and a third are fully vaccinated. A disproportionate number of those already vaccinated, however, are white. Black and Hispanic communities received a smaller share of the vaccine. As vaccine eligibility nationwide opens up to all adults, it's worth asking whether that will equate to equitable access. Richard Besser, MD, a pediatrician, former acting CDC Director, and the current President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest non-profit dedicated to health, joins us on this week's episode to examine how equitable the vaccine distribution has been and where efforts need to be focused.