BUFFALO, N.Y. — For the first time, New York State has released statewide COVID-19 vaccination data that breaks down both race and ethnicity.
The information, released on Wednesday evening, incudes New Yorkers who have had at least one dose by region.
In Western New York, 91.6 percent of the total individuals vaccinated have been White. Following that group was Black (3.8 percent), Asian (2.0), and other (1.1), with 1.5 percent of people declining to identify a race.
When compared to the percentage of people who are eligible to receive the vaccine, 88.4 percent are White, 8.9 percent are Black, and 1.8 percent identified as "other."
Looking at ethnicity, 1.9 percent who identify as Hispanic or Latino have received at least one dose, out of the 2.3 percent in Western New York who are eligible.
The dashboard has once again illustrated the disparity in vaccinating minority groups across the state.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed efforts by his administration to address such disparities on Wednesday, which now include using the Delavan Grider Community Center in Buffalo as a mass vaccination site starting March 3.
The site will be run by the state and FEMA.
The location and ones in Rochester and Albany were chosen by the Governor's Office to target vulnerable groups, such as the Black, Latino, Asian and Arab communities who by and large don't have the same access to COVID vaccination as White Americans.
"I think for us really being on the ground in grassroots you know really knowing where are you having an impact with the vaccines is so important," Dr. Raul Vazquez of Urban Family Practice.
Doctor Vazquez and his team have vaccinated more than 1,200 people and mapped the impact using people's zip codes. He said vulnerable and typically minority neighborhoods on the East Side of Buffalo such as the 14211 zip code and on the West Side at 14207 have seldom gotten the attention needed.
"Dunkirk has a large Latino presence that doesn't have a lot of penetration, Lackawanna, the East Side, and I think that's where we're going to spend our efforts in the next couple months," Dr. Vazquez said.
The effort is also being undertaken by Jericho Road Community Health Center, which during the past couple of weeks has vaccinated 407 people, mostly Black and Asian.
"Prioritizing community members based on, do you live in the zip codes around our clinics? Do you work in this neighborhood?" Chief Medical Officer Allana Krolikowski said.
ZIP CODE DATA PROVIDED BY JERICHO ROAD COMMUNITY HEALTH
Zip Code
Percent
- 14211 - 23.90%
- 14212 - 10.91%
- 14215 - 8.57%
- 14213 - 6.49%
- 14207 - 4.68%
- 14206 - 3.90%
- 14225 - 3.64%
- 14204 - 3.12%
- 14203 - 2.86%
- 14208 - 2.60%
- 14214 - 2.60%
- 14220 - 2.34%
- 14223 - 2.08%
- 14226 - 2.08%
- 14201 - 1.82%
- 14216 - 1.56%
- 14217 - 1.56%
- 14221 - 1.56%
- 14222 - 1.56%
- 14043 - 1.30%
- 14202- 1.04%
- 14209 - 1.04%
- 14094 - 0.78%
- 14150 - 0.78%
- 14210 - 0.78%
- 14024 - 0.52%
- 14051 - 0.52%
- 14059 - 0.52%
- 14072 - 0.52%
- 14075 - 0.52%
- 14174 - 0.52%
- 14227 - 0.52%
- 14228 - 0.52%
- 14047 - 0.26%
- 14068 - 0.26%
- 14085 - 0.26%
- 14086 - 0.26%
- 14127 - 0.26%
- 14205 - 0.26%
- 14218 - 0.26%
- 14224 - 0.26%
- 14240 - 0.26%
RACE/ETHNICITY DATA JERICHO ROAD COMMUNITY HEALTH
- Declined to Specify / Unknown - 4.30%
- Hispanic / Latino - 9.02%
- Black / African American - 0.61%
- Other Race - 3.69%
- White - 4.71%
- Not Hispanic / Latino - 86.68%
- American Indian / Alaska Native - 0.20%
- American Indian / Alaska Native, Black / African American - 0.20%
- Asian - 31.15%
- Black / African American - 32.58%
- Declined to Specify / Unknown - 0.61%
- Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander - 0.20%
- Other Race - 2.87%
- White - 18.85%
With two clinics on the East Side, one on the West Side, and a smaller one at the City Mission, similar zip code data showed that Jericho Road Community Health Center has also vaccinated populations that lag behind according to the state's newly available data.
"There is definitely hesitancy out there and so it's really taking the time to meet people where they are at and asking them questions and giving them a chance to decide," Krolikowski said.