Part 2 What are the barriers to vaccination in minority communities?

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Quick Check

Why are vaccine rates lower in New Jersey's minority communities?

Many residents are already immune to the COVID virus because they have been infected with COVID-19.

This answer is incorrect. Lower vaccine rates can be due to multiple factors such as distrust of health care providers, concerns about immigration status, and problems with access. Read below for details about factors that hinder vaccination in our minority communities.

A combination of factors are responsible for lower vaccination rates, such as distrust of the health care providers, concerns about immigration status and problems with access.

This answer is correct. Multiple internal and external factors are barriers to vaccination in minority communities. Read below for details about factors that hinder vaccination in our minority communities.

Vaccination Rates in NJ

More than half of the state's population (56%) has been fully vaccinated, but rates continue to lag in low-income and minority communities. For example in Union County, Plainfield has a vaccination of 24%, less than half the vaccination rate in Union's most vaccinated municipality, Berkeley Heights, where 53% of the population is fully vaccinated. See: NJ's most & least COVID-19 vaccinated towns, county-by-county

Black adults are more reluctant than other groups to get a coronavirus vaccine, citing safety concerns or distrust of the health care system, a finding that reflects historic and ongoing racism by health care institutions. Outreach and communications can reduce the barriers and racial inequity in vaccine distribution.

Undocumented immigrants need explicit reassurance that vaccine administration sites will not be used for enforcing immigration law.

There are also barriers to access. Especially during the initial months of vaccine roll-out, low income and minority communities were left behind when it comes to accessing the vaccine. Systems that rely on people traveling to distant sites and depend on online registrations undermine service access for members of low-income minority communities, who are less likely to own cars or have home internet access. Other barriers to access include:

Difficulty finding vaccine sites open on weekends (the only time many essential workers are available)
Challenges overcoming language barriers - Initially NJ’s online vaccine registration portal was only available in English.
Fears involving immigration status - Not all NJ residents know that the vaccines are offered free of charge and to everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Overcoming these Barriers

New Jersey is increasingly focused on helping underserved communities get access to the vaccine. Vaccination programs are partnering with community organizations that people trust and can access. In addition, NJ transit has set up a link https://www.njtransit.com/vaxride which maps out public transportation to vaccination sites.

What can you do?

1. If you or someone you know is trying to access the vaccine, use the NJ COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center 1-855-568-0545. Trained operators are available in 240 languages from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily. The operators will provide assistance with finding a vaccination site, register you for the vaccine and answer other questions. There is a specific hotline for seniors 65+. Call 856-249-7007 from 8am to 8pm to schedule dedicated vaccine appointments.

2. If there aren’t vaccine sites from providers that are both accessible and trusted in your community, call the Office of Minority Health in the NJ Dept. of Health at 609-292-6962 or a member of the NJ Protect Workers Coalition to identify churches, worker centers or other community centers that could offer vaccines at extended hours for local residents. Then help get the word out!

Sources

N.J. Minority Communities want COVID Vaccines But Aren't Able to Get Them, New Poll Finds

Virus Variants Rising in Hudson County, Murphy Promises Vaccine Help

Whole Generations of Fathers' Lost As COVID-19 Kills Young Latino Men in NJ

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