No internet, no vaccine? Lack of internet access limited COVID-19 vaccine availability for some minorities- Technology News, Firstpost

Racial and ethnic minority communities lacking Internet access have been Left behind in the race to get a COVID-19 vaccine. the average monthly cost of Internet access, around US $ 70, may be out of reach for those who can barely afford the purchase. Reporters and academics have written about the effects of lack of internet access in rural areas in the US Y developing countries, but they have paid less attention to the harm of lack of Internet access in racial and ethnic minority communities in major cities.

We are researchers who study health disparities. We are concerned that even when vaccinations are offered in these communities, people at higher risk for COVID-19 may not be able to get appointments without the help of family or friends. This includes racial and ethnic minority communities and older adults, the age group currently being vaccinated.

Our research suggests that lack of Internet access may be a major reason. And for the almost 13.8 million older adults In the US living alone, asking for help may not be an option.

The computer as a COVID-19 connector

During the pandemic, the Internet has been an indispensable health tool for millions.

Telehealth services have provided safe path for patients to make appointments for testing for COVID-19 and other types of medical care. In fact, there was a 154% increase in telehealth visits during the last seven days of March 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. This was likely due to public health mandates that required a change of in-person care.

In addition, patients receive communications from their providers through email and other messaging systems They offer access to medical care, health information and test results. Y, public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have relied on their websites, online events, and social media to educate the public about COVID-19. Internet access is essential during a pandemic.

This has been particularly true as the vaccine has been released. Registration for the vaccine has occurred predominantly online. This means that far fewer older adults from low-income racial and ethnic minority communities have been able to make appointments.

In 2018, more than one in four Medicare beneficiaries I didn’t have digital access at home. Those without digital access were more likely to be 85 or older, members of racial or ethnic minority communities, and low-income households.

How Internet Access Can Determine Health

Over the years, medical and public health experts have identified social factors (structural racism, a person’s neighborhood, access to fresh food, exposure to toxins, income, and education) that play an important role in health. These factors are often referred to as social determinants of health. Structural racism, or racism embedded in social, business, educational and health policies and practices, is considered by experts to be one of the most damaging determinants. These factors, in turn, ultimately lead to more sickness and death, as they have done with COVID-19.

Early data on the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 showed that structural racism likely increased exposure to coronavirus among racial and ethnic minority communities. And racial gaps also prevented access to tests and affected attention quality.

The pandemic has also clarified the risk of infection for our aging population. Nevertheless, research has put less emphasis on how aging it affects some populations more than others, such as the effects of structural racism and income.

Now it seems that Internet access is emerging as a new and troublesome determinant of health. This appears to be particularly true for low-income racial and ethnic minority communities and aging populations.

Although people can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments over the phone, call centers are often overwhelmed. Timeouts it can be extremely long. Access to the Internet, having an Internet-enabled device, and understanding how to use both have been necessary to enroll in the vaccine. Many advocacy groups and public health experts have begun to view Internet access as a civil rights problem.

During the fall of 2020, we discussed this topic in more depth with Black and Latino people who are HIV positive and at risk of suffering a cardiovascular event. In our researchWe found that 17 out of 30 patients did not have the Internet, did not have a computer, or did not know how to use the Internet or a computer. They, like many people with poor health or from low-income racial and ethnic minorities, are affected by numerous social determinants that amplify the negative health consequences they experience.

While online health services could be used to increase access and retention in care among vulnerable groups, not having access widens existing disparities.

Solutions exist, but must be implemented

To address the Internet divide, we believe that legislators must identify the lack of Internet access as a barrier and guard against its effects. This could include reserving vaccines in low-income racial and ethnic minority communities for local residents and designating schedules for seniors 65 and older.

Policymakers could also require timely submission of demographic information, including within medical environments, to monitor equity. Public health administrators could also partner with organizations that work with vulnerable populations, such as Meals on Wheels, to deliver food and vaccines to individual households.

Public health departments could also work with trusted community leaders and organizations to produce culturally consistent multimedia information on vaccines and other health topics. They could also organize billboards, highway signs, and posters at local restaurants.

Additionally, healthcare professionals and organizations can help by teaching patients about government subsidies and internet programs for low-income people from Internet service providers. They can also provide training on how to use internet, which would at least be a good start for these vulnerable groups.

Tamra burns loeb, Adjunct Adjunct Professor – Acting; UCLA Center for Cultural, Trauma and Mental Health Disparities, University of California, Los Angeles; AJ Adkins-Jackson, Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Y Arleen F. Brown, Professor of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

This article is republished from The conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the Original article.

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