The Quandary of COVID-19 Vaccine Trials for Black Americans Who (Rightfully) Distrust Medical Researchers – Union of Concerned Scientists

Well, here we are. The place where no one wanted to be. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have surpassed 200,000 Americans. Black Americans continue to experience the highest COVID-19 mortality rates nationwide, are almost five times more likely than White Americans to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and twice as likely to die from the disease. Despite those facts, Black people are not participating in the COVID-19 vaccine trials in large numbers.

Theres a lot of discussion about the lack of participation by people of color, particularly Black people, in the vaccine trials, or in research with human subjects in general. CBS News reported that while Black people make up 18 percent of the nations population, they only represent 11 percent and 16 percent of Pfizer and Modernas vaccine trials, respectively. Both pharmaceutical companies are in phase three trials where volunteers test the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Let me share some insight from my perspective, on why there may be a low participation rate, for those of you who see it as a problem (not everyone does, you know).

As a people, Black Americans are not strangers to the disparate impact we face from infectious disease on Black Americans. People of colorminoritiesare often affected by infectious diseases disproportionately compared with their White counterparts.

Now here we are, just over 100 years later, dealing with pretty much the same sh*t.

Because of structural racism, Black Americans, along with Latinx and Indigenous Peoples, experience greater infection and mortality rates from COVID-19, from the elderly down through children of color. As I have written in previous blog posts, the fact is that the reason that pre-existing conditions, which make COVID-19 more deadly, are so widely prevalent is because of racism. Frontline workers, essential workersincluding grocery store clerks, farmworkers, transportation workers, environmental sanitation workers and others are, for the most part, people of color. The data gatheredaround the disparity in COVID-19 testing, treatment and deaths, although incomplete, speaks volumes and is reminiscent of the historical practices described above.

Now if that doesnt provide enough reasons for lack of participation, here are a few more.

Given everything I have mentioned here, which isnt nearly inclusive of everything that has occurred, is there really any wonder why many Black people dont want to be used as guinea pigs or laboratory rats, particularly when initial questions about susceptibility have not even been addressed? There is a legacy of mistreatment in medical trials and that contributes to the lack of participation by Black people.

At the same time, Black people must consider the ramifications of non-participationparticularly when it comes to ensuring the efficacy of a vaccine for people who are more at risk of infection and deaths from COVID-19. Even given the historical context I provide here, participation must be an individual decision, after much consideration.

PA Governor's office/Flickr

Posted in: Science and Democracy, Science Communication Tags: COVID-19 and the Coronavirus Pandemic, ethics, public health, Systemic Racism

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The Quandary of COVID-19 Vaccine Trials for Black Americans Who (Rightfully) Distrust Medical Researchers - Union of Concerned Scientists