New data have revealed stark differences between New York City neighborhoods when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine levels.
On Tuesday, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released coronavirus vaccine levels according to ZIP code.
In white, affluent neighborhoods such as the Upper East, Douglaston and City Hall, as many as 25 percent of adults have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
But in low-income neighborhoods and minority languages - which have been hit hard when it comes to cases and deaths – vaccination rates are declining.
Areas such as The South Bronx, parts of central Queens and central Brooklyn are among the lowest in New York City with just two percent of all adults fully resistant to the virus.
New vaccination data by ZIP Code in New York City show full vaccine rates as high as 25% in richer, white neighborhoods (dark blue) but as low as 2% in deprived, minority language areas ( light blue)
These are the only ZIP codes that hit the hardest pandemic, with coronavirus infection rates as high as 7,600 cases per 100,000 (left) and mortality rates as high as 343 deaths per 100,000 people
The data showed that seven percent of all Manhattan residents are vaccinated by neighborhoods such as Lincoln Square and Lenox Hill reporting rates as high as 16 percent
Staten Island is the second most vaccinated city with six per cent of residents having received both pictures.
In a predominantly white neighborhood of Douglaston, in Queens, data shows that 20 percent of adults are fully inoculated.
With City Island, an area in the Bronx largely made up of Caucasian residents, 25 percent were given both jobs.
Many of these areas have relatively low coronavirus death rates reported at around 163 deaths per 100,000, according to metropolitan data.
However, levels in the Southern Bronx, parts of central Queensland and central Brooklyn – largely minority communities – are lagging behind.
Neighbors such as Mott Haven, Bedford-Stuyvesant and South Jamaica report that just two percent of all adults have been fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 mortality rates in these ZIP codes have been significantly higher with as many as 343 per 100,000 people dying from the disease.
‘Just as we have seen a much smaller proportion of vaccines go to New York black and brown, we are also seeing these geographical differences emerge,’ said Dr Torian Easterling, chief executive equality officer in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
In New York City, triple white residents are more likely to get the coronavirus vaccine than Latinos and triple-minded residents are more likely than black residents
Vaccination rates by population are white, but blacks and Latinos have made up just 5.4% and 11.5% of vaccines despite having 12.5% and 19% of the U.S. population, according to CDC data
De Blasio said it believes the opening of a large vaccine site at Citi Field in Queens and the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, reserved for residents of those cities, will raise vaccine levels. Pictured: People appearing at the COVID-19 vaccine site at Citi Field, February 10th
The inequalities underscore the spread of the vaccine, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pointed to ‘deep’ racial differences.]
In New York City, triple white residents are more likely to receive the coronavirus vaccine than Latinos residents and triple more likely than black residents, city demographic data revealed.
However, according to CDC data, black and Latino Americans are about 1.5 times more likely to be exposed to the virus than white Americans and about three times more likely to die.
De Blasio said vaccination rates are low in small communities due to a combination of mistrust and racial inequality.
‘We have a lot of work to do,’ he said on Tuesday.
Much of this is about painful differences and inequalities first. It is better for people who have more privilege to lead this process. People who are more confident in the vaccine are going to put in more effort to get it. ‘
Easterling said more emphasis needs to be placed on vaccine education so that residents feel comfortable enough to take it.
He said he heard two common complaints that the [vaccine causes fertility problems, and that it was the product of a rushed and unsafe scientific process.]
‘Not only are we building the trust around vaccines, but it is also making our communities feel like we are out here to serve them,’ Easterling said.
De Blasio said he believes the opening of a large vaccine site at Citi Field in Queens and the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, reserved for residents of those cities, will raise vaccine levels.
This is to address inequality, doing something very compelling about it. This effort will not stop. We are going to go deeper and deeper into communities to ensure equality, ‘he said.
The mayor also said the town plans to use the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine for seniors going home.
So the Johnson & Johnson vaccine comes in, which is one dose, it needs less cooling. It’s easier to use, easier to carry, ‘he said.
‘We’re going to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to get home, elderly, literally sending medical staff, trained people to individual flats’
J&J has submitted vaccine clinical trial data for emergency use consent, but the Food and Drug Administration is not expected to approve the design until March.