COVID Vaccination Disparities Resume Among Communities of Color

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A United Methodist Insight Column

One of The United Methodist Church's best accomplishments at the height of the coronavirus pandemic was its advocacy for COVID-19 vaccinations in communities of color. Following the lead of UMC-related Meharry Medical College in Nashville, congregations across the United States opened their buildings as immunization sites in communities of color.

Now that the pandemic has waned from its earliest catastrophe, an article from The Conversation describes that although more people of color have had basic immunization, many have not had the opportunity to get boosters that are vital to reducing infections. "Comparable booster vaccine promotion efforts have been lacking. Confusion in the public health messaging surrounding boosters and limited federal funding for rolling out vaccination campaigns have resulted in slow booster uptake across the country," write the article's co-authors Andrew Stokes, Dielle Lundberg, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field. and Rafeya Raquib

"As a result, divides have once again emerged," the article continues. "A recent study of COVID-19 booster rates found that 45% of white adults and 52% of Asian American adults had received boosters by January 2022. But only 29% of Black adults and 31% of adults who reported another racial or ethnic identity, such as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or multiracial, were boosted.

"As of late August 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 36.3% of white adults in the U.S. 50 years or older and eligible for a second booster shot had received one. This is compared to only 28.4% for the Black population, 31.3% for American Indian or Alaska Native populations, and 25.1% for the Hispanic population.

"... Vaccine studies suggest that adults age 50 and older who receive a booster shot have 90% lower death rates from COVID-19 than those who receive only the initial vaccine regimen. But the extent to which boosters have translated into health gains at the population level remains unclear."

Clearly it's time to mount a new mission to innoculate communities of color with COVID-19 boosters. What's happening at your church?

Just Energy for All Working Group

United Women in Faith's Just Energy for All Working Group will meet Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. ET. 

"To build community and relationships, we’ll begin with speed networking in groups of twos or threes," says the announcement from the new economic and environmental executive Ilka Vega and Maryann Verghese, Just Energy for All coordination consultant. "We’ll also discuss last month's webinar, 100% Renewable Energy Efforts, in jurisdictional groups and share federal legislative updates."

The United Women in Faith Just Energy for All working group meets monthly to share and plan Just Energy for All related activities. All those working on Just Energy for All at any level of United Women in Faith and friends are invited. It will be a time to share best practices, plan and execute actions at the national and local level, deepen connections with Just Energy for All at the national and local level, and expand the work of climate justice among United Women in Faith members.  

Please email climatejustice@uwfaith.org if you have any suggestions for topics to cover for upcoming working groups.

Urge Congress to oppose fossil fuels, support wildlife

Two opportunities to be visible witnesses for the care of God's creation come from UM Creation Justice Movement's new advocacy page on its website.

First, UMCJM urges United Methodists to tell Congress to oppose legislation that expands fossil fuel development. This is a result of getting President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act past the Senate. "As part of a compromise to advance this legislation, Congressional leaders agreed to consider separate legislation that would expand and expedite fossil fuel development," the organization's website explains. "These proposed projects would further harm frontline communities already facing the toxic burden of our mining and fossil fuel development."

The movement notes: "Our United Methodist social teachings make clear our call to 'stand in solidarity with environmental justice movements led by people of color and native peoples who have been adversely impacted by environmental toxins in their neighborhoods' (Resolution 1025: Environmental Racism in the U.S.); 'oppose any energy policy that will result in continuing exploitation of indigenous peoples’ lands' (Resolution 1001: Energy Policy Statement); and 'advocate for national policies that shift resources, including subsidies, away from high-carbon development and toward alter- native, cleaner energy sources.' (Resolution 1035: Climate Change and the Church’s Response)

United Methodists are encouraged to their congressional representatives and senators to ask them to "oppose any legislation that would expand fossil fuel development despoiling communities, endangering the health of our neighbors, and worsening the climate crisis."  Members of Congress can be reached by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121). A sample script is included on the advocacy page. There's also a link to a guide on how to make a successful call to your members of Congress, visit: Tips for Calling Your Elected Official

Second, the UM Creation Justice Movement urges support for "Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (Senate Bill: S.2372). "This important legislation would provide historic levels of funding for wildlife conservation for states, tribes, and territories. The bill, which passed in the House of Representatives in June, would also demonstrate rare bipartisan cooperation in the area of creation care. The original sponsors are Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO). There are forty-two cosponsors—26 Democrats and 16 Republicans."

Please contact your senators today to support this legislation

Media Mentions as of Aug. 30, 2022

200 years and counting: Tiny Island Grove United Methodist is on the upswing, leaders say – The State Journal-Register

Wichita's Finest: Valecia Scribner aims to reframe Christianity through activism, advocacy ... KWCH

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. To reproduce this content elsewhere, please email Insight for permission.