Urban Indian Organizations: Key Partners for COVID-19 Vaccination Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread for about two years in the United States since the first case was detected, and it has seriously harmed those most vulnerable in our communities ever since. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities have borne an especially severe burden, with disproportionately high cases and deaths.  Thankfully though, these communities have been strong and resilient, enthusiastically seeking measures to protect their respected elders and communities.  Over the past year, vaccination against COVID-19 has has emerged as the best protection we have against severe disease and death, and AI/AN people have had the highest vaccination rate in the country by race according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  Many reasons contributed to this success, including the Indian Health Service distribution of vaccines to facilities, as well as an acute appreciation of the impact of the pandemic that some AI/AN communities have felt.  A year into the vaccination campaign, we see signs both of triumphs and opportunities.  Urban Indian Organizations (UIO) have been instrumental in the success of vaccinating AI/AN populations in 38 urban areas, and are key beacons for outreach, resources, and care to a growing urban population that is sometimes labelled “hard-to-reach”.

Nevertheless, there remain stark differences in vaccination coverage between cities. In Figure 1, the percent of the general population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in each UIO service area is displayed, showing how these cities have evolved over the past year. By clicking on service areas in the legend, viewers can hide service areas for clearer reading. The figure also includes a tool tip, showing the date and vaccination coverage in each area at any time.

Thirty-two percentage points separate the UIO service area with the lowest COVID-19 vaccine coverage and the city with the highest vaccine coverage (Wichita at 48% of the population, compared to San Jose at 81% as of January 1^st).  Around June 1^st of 2021, vaccination coverage in many cities began to plateau – after which most UIO cities experienced much slower vaccination rate increases due to the fact that the most enthusiastic citizens were quickly vaccinated in March and April.