COVID-19: Why Hispanics Are Not Priority in the First Round of Vaccines

2020-12-05T20:24:51.196Z

Dr. Javier Pérez-Fernández explains why Hispanics and African Americans will not have priority in the first round of vaccines against COVID-19 despite being the most vulnerable to the disease.

The race to formalize a vaccine against the coronavirus continues its march worldwide and, both in Latin America and in Europe and other parts of the world, vaccination schedules are being finalized and in some cases are yet to be confirmed.

For example, it was recently released that an influential US Federal Government advisory panel decided to prioritize healthcare workers and nursing home residents once the first vaccines become available.

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But why are Hispanics and African Americans not prioritized in the first round of vaccines despite being the most vulnerable to COVID-19?

Dr.

Javier Pérez-Fernández

clarifies it.

"Certainly the problem is mostly the lack of vaccine dosages. So, at the moment we have a limited number of doses and they are going to be applied to people who are at higher risk of getting sick and getting very sick [from virus], that is, having a higher risk of complications, "he explained.

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Under this premise, he highlighted who could be the priority populations to receive the vaccine.

"In this case, the elderly know that it is a very important group, especially people who live in communities of the elderly; and doctors, health workers, nurses, etc., who are the people who are exposed and who are also totally necessary to keep the job and fight the virus, "he concluded.