APHA in Brief

Equitable COVID-19 vaccinations needed

To curb the unequal harm COVID-19 has placed on U.S. communities of color, vaccination plans must prioritize equity, according to a new APHA fact sheet.

Released this summer, “COVID-19 Vaccination: An Equitable Response,” shares recommendations for boosting vaccination rates.

While COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color in terms of both case rates and deaths, their vaccination rates have lagged. Among Americans who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by June 20, 60% were white, 15% were Hispanic, 9% were Black, 6% were Asian and fewer than 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders accounted for fewer than 1% of people who had received at least one dose, according to CDC, but there are gaps in data for those populations.

To address the discrepancies, the APHA fact sheet calls for prioritizing high-risk groups for vaccination, building trust in communities and addressing barriers to access. Specific suggestions to increase vaccination rates include deploying mobile vaccine clinics, partnering with leaders from within communities, holding vaccination events on evenings and weekends, and offering paid leave and free child care so people can receive their vaccinations.

To download and share the new fact sheet, visit www.apha.org/health-equity.

The Nation’s Health was honored in June for its outstanding editorial content.

Image courtesy AM&P Network

APHA’s newspaper honored for content

The Nation’s Health has been singled out for its out-standing public health news content.

In June, APHA’s newspaper received a gold award for editorial excellence in the 41st Annual AM&P Network EXCEL Awards, which honor exceptional association publications and media from across the U.S.

The Nation’s Health earned its award for its August 2020 issue, edging out finalist publications from the American College of Physicians and Catholic Health Association. The August issue of APHA’s official newspaper included stories on police violence, COVID-19 risks faced by essential workers, safe voting during the pandemic, systemic racism and climate change.

For more information on The Nation’s Health, visit www.thenationshealth.org.

APHA, Made to Save boost vaccinations

APHA has become a partner of Made to Save, a national grassroots effort to ensure communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic have access to vaccines and accurate, timely information.

“This outreach is extremely important to help reach people who need to be vaccinated,” said APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD, in a news release. “We are turning the corner on this disease, and we need to ensure everyone gets vaccinated to effectively bring the pandemic under control.

Launched in April by Civic Nation, Made to Save includes corporate, nonprofit, labor and health care partners, including the American Nurses Association and National Hispanic Medical Association. In June, the campaign rallied APHA and other partners in support of the National Vaccine Month of Action, which had a goal of boosting U.S. vaccinations by July 4.

To learn more, visit www.madetosave.org.