Vaccine Efforts Effective In Underrepresented Communities: UAB

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Alabama has been behind most of the country in its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, but the University of Alabama at Birmingham reports that its effort to vaccinate minority communities is leading most states in the U.S.

Of the 59,167 vaccination doses delivered by UAB and UAB Medicine since mid-December, almost 21 percent of those doses were administered to individuals who self-identified as Black, 67 percent White, 7 percent Asian and almost 3 percent Hispanic or Latino.

"From the beginning, we have been purposeful in our planning and outreach to make equity a central focus of our vaccination efforts," said Dr. Sarah Nafziger, vice president of clinical operations for UAB Hospital. "While our early results are better than the national average with Black communities, we are not satisfied and will continue our efforts to increase outreach among underrepresented groups."

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has highlighted people of color among the "critical population" to vaccinate because they are at "increased risk of acquiring or transmitting COVID-19," a nationwide report the agency released Feb. 1 estimates that only 5.4 percent of those vaccinated are Black. ABC News recently examined 15 states' data and determined that many are underperforming when it comes to providing vaccines to the Black community.

The breakdown of the 59,167 vaccines UAB has administered is as follows: (all numbers through Tuesday, Feb. 16):

• 41,075 have received first dose
• 18,092 have received first and second doses
• Females: 64.01 percent
• Males: 35.99 percent
• Whites: 66.81 percent
• Black or African American: 20.72 percent
• Asian: 7.09 percent
• Hispanic or Latino: 2.97 percent
• Other/Unknown: 2.38

The 59,167 vaccine doses administered in total by UAB account for 10.17 percent of the total number of vaccine doses given in Alabama, when compared to the Alabama Department of Public Health dashboard.

"When we brought the proposals to open these community vaccination sites, the leadership of the university and UAB Health System never questioned whether or not UAB should do it," Nafziger said. "They said, 'Absolutely, you do whatever is needed to partner with public health groups to make sure we get this done so we can end this pandemic.' I'm very grateful to our leadership team for allowing us to do this."

UAB vaccinated 12,139 people in total last week, and Nafziger said it could provide more, but supplies for Alabama — and everyone — remain an issue.

"We believe we have the capacity to deliver up to 20,000 doses of vaccine per week with the current structure we have in place," Nafziger said. "But we are not receiving enough vaccine to supply our sites at that level, and our allocations have decreased. We're going to continue to work with the Alabama Department of Public Health, and when they give us vaccine, we will deliver it quickly and efficiently to eligible people."

The vaccinations have taken place at community sites established at the Hoover Met and in downtown Birmingham at three sites: UAB Hospital-Highlands, Parker High School and the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium at UAB Hospital. At these sites, UAB has provided vaccinations to ADPH-approved groups, including frontline health care employees from UAB and other hospitals and community health care personnel, EMS personnel, first responders, patients, those in the education sector and other eligible community members.