An Oregon Vaccination Advisory Committee recommends that the state distribute coronavirus vaccines to color communities, in an effort to alleviate racial inequalities in the health care system. The committee’s recommendation is also aimed at people who are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic due to the socio-economic background, proponents of the guidelines said.
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The committee was set up by the Oregon Health Authority as a way to address generational racism within the state’s health care system, and includes members from a multitude of racial justice and health groups. The health authority says it will follow the committee’s recommendations if it can overcome legal challenges and get Governor Kate Brown’s signature.
The committee said about 806,000 blacks, natives and coloreds (BIPOC) would receive a vaccine next year if the recommendation was accepted at their next meeting, according to Oregon Live, the website operated by The Oregonian newspaper.
Currently, the governor has prioritized about 1.4 million people, including health workers, residents and staff, inmates, teachers and some senior citizens, to get the first shot.
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Advocates say these groups should be given preference after the first group has been administered, over other front workers and members of non-minority communities.
“We believe we need to prioritize people who are in significant vulnerable situations and who are currently dying – frontline workers, adults in detention and people in low-income senior housing and other community care facilities,” Oregon Legislature members wrote. ‘s BIPOC Caucus in the letter, obtained by OPB.
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“This front line and essential workers, adults in detention, and people in low-income senior housing and other community care institutions, is excessively BIPOC, and by prioritizing priority and essential workers and communities, we are centering BIPOC communities,” the letter reads.