WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Early data from Delaware’s Division of Public Health shows a striking racial disparity in the early weeks of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The News Journal reported Tuesday that Black and Latinos in the state are making up a small percentage of those who have received at least one dose.
More than 100,000 doses have been administered. Of those, 38% were to people who are white, 4% to people who are Black and 2% to people who listed their race or ethnicity as Hispanic/Latino. The data also shows that 1% of recipients are Asian.
However, about 23% of recipients listed their race or ethnicity as “another/multiple.” And the race of 31% of recipients is unknown. That’s despite the fact that the information is a required component of vaccine reporting.
State health officials say some providers did not collect race data or input it correctly. The health department is working to correct it.
Delaware is still just beginning its first phase. And residents who are 65 years old and older just got access to the vaccination less than two weeks ago.
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