Seattle Children’s Hospital cancelled 1,300 appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations due to concerns that the signup process wasn’t equitable enough.
Signups were first made available to patients who already had an existing relationship with the hospital, prompting concerns that the vaccine wasn’t being made available to a wide enough group of people, according to CNN. “We decided we needed broader communication to the greater public of available vaccine appointments as we want to achieve the widest reach possible,” the hospital told CNN in a statement.
“Shortly after releasing appointments, we decided we needed broader communication to the greater public of available vaccine appointments as we want to achieve the widest reach possible,” the hospital said https://t.co/NqicPrP7Mn
— CNN (@CNN) February 5, 2021
Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday that equal access to vaccines was critical following reports that black and Latino Americans are being vaccinated at a lower rate than white Americans. “It’s just wrong to offer special privilege in this regard,” the governor said. (RELATED: Study: ER Visits For Suicide Attempts, Overdoses, Violence And Neglect Rose During COVID-19 Lockdowns)
Only about 5% of COVID-19 vaccine recipients thus far in America have been black, which is far less than the proportion of black healthcare workers and nursing home residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black and Latino Americans have died at greater rates of COVID-19 than white Americans.