MAP: Where Mississippians can get the COVID-19 vaccine
Mississippi joined most other states in halting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding which groups to include in phases of the vaccine rollout following healthcare workers and residents of long-term-care facilities.
Last week, Mississippi also became the first state to open up vaccine eligibility to people ages 50 and up.
Addressing the racial inequities of the state’s immunization efforts has been especially difficult.
Access challenges combined with a trust problem for many Black Mississippians are a result of racism and abuse Black people have been subjugated to by U.S. governments and healthcare systems.
While accounting for 38% of the state’s population, Black Mississippians were accounting for only 15% of the vaccines given in the state early in the distribution effort. That share has grown to 26%, and the gap is closing.
Dobbs credited this improvement to the work of Black community leaders in churches and healthcare settings, who continue advocating for vaccination.
“I’m proud of Mississippi. I’m proud of what we’re doing,” Dobbs said. “Let’s keep our foot on the accelerator, pushing COVID down so that we can get back to full normal before too long.”