As the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community across the country recognizes and celebrates the diverse contributions made in the United States, we are reminded that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to allow us to gather safely in U.S. public and private.
As of May 12, the CDC reported that more than 258 million Americans (of all eligible ages) had opted to be vaccinated.
Currently, more than 12.8 million Asians (non-Hispanic) and 618,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders ages 5 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, 95% of older Americans, or 56.5 million adults age 65 and older, were vaccinated, a major achievement since last year in protecting older adults in our community.
“We have more than 90 percent of our seniors already vaccinated,” said Dr. Cameron Webb, White House senior policy adviser for COVID-19 equity, at a summit titled “Encouraging Dialogue on COVID-19 Vaccines” on April 22. “We have to get that same level around the booster to really get the protection we need.”
Although AANHPI is generally more likely to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than the general U.S. population, about 39% of eligible Asians and more than 52% of eligible Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders still need a booster immunity.
“If you’re vaccinated and boosted, you’re well protected from [COVID-19] The variants we’ve seen so far.We have the tools to save lives…and we’ve seen [that] Boosters are very important to keep people safe. “
America has come a long way in keeping our communities safe, but data consistently shows how communities of color are still disproportionately impacted by COVID, and AANHPI health disparities remain a key issue in achieving health equity. In fact, some AANHPI segments are at higher risk due to higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
Experts also shared the importance of vaccinating children, encouraging parents to take action for the health and well-being of their families. “Almost all children who end up in the ICU are completely unvaccinated,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, vice president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “It’s both tragic and encouraging. It’s tragic that at this point in the pandemic, these hospitalizations are almost entirely preventable, and it’s encouraging because we have such a powerful tool (vaccine) to keep children from suffering. .”
With more relaxed public requirements for COVID safety protocols and increased travel, COVID cases and hospitalizations are rising again. It is encouraging that COVID-19 mortality rates continue to decline due to widespread vaccination.
Boosters provide additional protection for more people from the COVID virus and variants. As AANHPI, let’s honor our community’s history by helping to protect our community’s future.
If you have any questions, please consult your doctor or your local healthcare professional.Find vaccines and boosters near you Vaccine website.
This health series is supported by funding from the Washington State Department of Health, which has no editorial input or oversight on this content.
