Less than 1 in 10 NJ Vaccines Are Going Toward Blacks And Latinos

New Jersey has administered more than 310,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. But a very small percentage has gone to the African American and Latino populations. Only 4 percent have been administered to Black people and 5 percent to Latinos, according to data from the state.

That's despite the fact that both groups make up about a third of New Jersey's population. The numbers aren't surprising given the huge mistrust in the health care system among communities of color," experts say. 

"We've heard a lot of people who question sort of the speed and the timeline around the vaccine and really want to see that it's OK," said Shawna Hudson, a professor of family medicine and community health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. 

"There's also been this new layer with what's going on with the federal government, a lot of distrust of the government and concerns that I think play into fears in our Black and Latino populations about can we really trust this at this point?"

Though up until this week, most of those eligible for the vaccine were health care workers, Hudson said that doesn't mean everyone had the same level of access to the science and trust in the system. 

"Just being in the setting doesn't mean that you actually have access to the conversations that would make you feel more comfortable," she said. 

About 38 percent of the state's health care workers are Black or Latino, U.S. Census numbers show.

Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said Friday a team is working to cut down on those disparities, including a plan to use mobile vans to offer vaccinations in certain areas. 

Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist with Montclair State University, agrees that's a good step. 

"We have this difficulty with even finding out where the vaccines are being given, getting your appointment but a lot of locations require somebody to have a car or transportation to get there and we know lack of transportation is major risk factor for a lot of different health outcomes," Silvera said. "We need to do in terms of outreach to communities."