America’s history of medical negligence reflected in the views of minority groups.

For centuries in America, minority groups have been neglected, ignored and underrepresented. For these communities, trust is hard to come by when it comes to systematic practices.  

While some medical establishments are perplexed at the hesitancy behind getting vaccinated for COVID-19, the inherent fear being demonstrated has more merit than professionals may want to admit. History of medical abuse and racism has been rooted so deep in Americas’ past, and is ever present in todays’ society.

Well known stories like the Tuskegee Study in 1931 where African American men were given false treatment for syphilis, or Henrietta Lacks in 1951 who’s cells lead to a significant amount of research without her knowledge or consent illustrate why certain groups may not jump to the front of the vaccine line. For many, these devastating events still linger.

Today, if you google Henrietta Lacks, the John Hopkins website includes a section titled “The Legacy of Henrietta Lacks.” The site states that practices and regulations for obtaining information were different in the 1950’s and claim that is the reason that neither Lacks nor her family were informed of the research surrounding her cells. Sure, it was well into the 1970’s when medical establishments implemented policies regarding consent, albeit it took John Hopkins over 60 years to discuss Lack’s cells with her family. While her miracle cancer cells, later named HeLa cells, lead to substantial research, her children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren had to wait until 2013 to officially have rights over their families’ cells.

Regardless of policies, isn’t it a universal expectation that medical professionals will do their best to care for and respect their patients? Medical ethics reflect the obligation of professionals to provide the best care possible while devoting time and knowledge to the betterment of patients’ health.

So, no, it is not or far-fetched to question the so-called professionals that vow to take care of humanity,
the mistrust of government run medical establishments is fueled by peoples’ lives, people that have continued to be affected well after the 1950’s.

Dr. Sheila Davis, Director at the Center for Health Equity Initiatives spoke about vaccine hesitancy and encouraged people to seek out information. In response to minority groups being hesitant she said that she wants people to really unpack their hesitancies. “This is a new day,” Davis said, who is an African American woman herself, “we have representation throughout the vaccine development process.”  

Davis goes on to state that one of the lead investigators with the Moderna vaccine is an African American woman, and that several people of color have been involved in the development of these vaccines. “Our health care system - it isn’t perfect, but it is certainly more diverse now and it certainly understands past atrocities and that it’s important to point people in the direction of a trusted provider.”

Unfortunately, the truth is that a trusted provider does not exist for many people, and our system continues to fail those people every day.

While white community residents are able to walk into a hospital, receive treatment and not have to fear for their safety, that is a privilege that many lower class Americans are unfamiliar with. Easily accessing medical care when you are poor is simply not an option; services like therapy, birth control, rehab and even obtaining insurance, these standardized services are not designed for poor people.

Though many people are interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine, the concern is that a majority of those people are white and have easier access to the vaccine, perhaps by being a part of medical or educational
establishments that were put first on the vaccine list.  

Sadie Rael, a registered nurse who works in Denver said it is scary with a new vaccine coming out so quickly, but that “it ultimately comes down to science.”  

“I trust the scientists and doctors behind the vaccine,” Rael said, who lost her grandmother to COVID in November, “I got the vaccine for her.”

According to data collected by Denver Public Health there is a higher rate for wealthier neighborhoods getting vaccinated than residents in predominately Latino or Black neighborhoods. Bill Burman, head of Denver Public Health said that it’s no surprise but “really just a reminder of the work that needs to be done.”  

Burmans statement reflects the perpetual issue of lower income communities' access to health services, mental health assistance and nutritional food.  

 Sheena Kadi, director of strategy and communications for Metro Caring, a nonprofit organization in Denver that provides quality produce for families in need, said, “we know that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black, brown and indigenous communities of color, seeing higher rates of positive infections, seeing higher rates of hospitalization, and seeing higher rates of death.”

These minority groups were being neglected before the pandemic, during an unprecedented crisis it’s been no different. Kadi has been working with Metro Caring since June 2020 stating that “- with the COVID-19 vaccine roll outs so far, those same communities are struggling to get access to the vaccine.”  

Struggling to make a living and gain access to basic human need services are continuous and constant issues for families and individuals living in low-income communities. People that have had to live in poverty their entire lives are used to being overlooked, their hesitation when it comes to being vaccinated is deeply rooted and a direct response to being abandoned by their government. Imagine living in poverty with little to no money to buy food for your family or to pay bills, in addition to being forced to rely on city or state governance for assistance. Online forms and phone calls never end, and weeks pass before a letter of approval arrives, and even then, it often isn’t enough. That is every day for some Black families, for some Mexican American families or Latino families, life is hard.

A pandemic hasn’t changed the dynamic, and yet families and individuals are being asked to have faith and trust in the system.

Miriam Fofana, a nurse working out of the University of Colorado said, “everything I was reading about the vaccine – there was nothing about pregnant or breastfeeding woman.” Fofana’s hesitancy about getting vaccinated stemmed from breast feeding her six-month-old baby. As of March 2021 there have been no studies on breast feeding woman taking the vaccine and therefor no known risks at this time. After some research Fofana’s view changed, “everyone should get it, but it is your body, your choice,” she said.
Fofana urged anyone who is hesitant to do their research and to make an informed decision.

As individual states push forward with plans to reach heard immunity until the underlining issues are faced communities will continue to disagree on the vaccine.