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As Conn. children get vaccinated, equity across communities still a concern
Nicole Leonard, Connecticut Public Radio, Nov. 9
Although COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has expanded to kids ages 5 to 11, disparities in vaccination rates for communities of color continue to exist. Personalized outreach, combating misinformation, and removing barriers such as transportation are key approaches in vaccinating children and their family members.
Racial disparities in kids’ vaccinations are hard to track
Annie Ma and Mike Melia, Associated Press, Nov. 15
While public officials and community leaders fear inequity in youth COVID-19 vaccinations, only a handful of states have made public data available by race and age. Regardless of data collection, public health officials have found a number of strategies powerfully effective. This includes partnering with schools, providing messaging in multiple languages, and deploying mobile vaccine units.
LGBTQ+ community in Connecticut wants better health care access, support: survey
Doug Stewart, FOX61, Nov. 11
The results of the first statewide LGBTQ+ survey took a comprehensive look at the needs of residents who identify as LGBTQ+. Among the 3,000 respondents, nearly two-thirds reported having concerns relating to health care access and finding supportive and knowledgeable health care providers.
A telehealth effort to treat PTSD and bipolar disorder in rural areas showed ‘huge gains.’ Now comes the hard part
Mario Aguilar, STAT News, Nov. 17
A recently published multi-year study found success in using telehealth to expand access to behavioral health care for underserved populations in rural areas. The study found that collaborative care was a viable method for getting more people treatment. However, to scale the approach, proponents face significant hurdles – including cost – in sustaining this type of care.
Racial covenants, a relic of the past, are still on the books across the country
Cheryl W. Thompson, Cristina Kim, Natalie Moore, Roxana Popescu, and Corinne Ruff, NPR, Nov. 17
Racially restrictive covenants that prohibit homeowners from selling to Black people were outlawed in 1968. However, these covenants can still be found in public records in nearly every state in the U.S. as a reminder of the legacy of past racist policies.