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Representative Angie Craig Questions Public Health Expert on Efforts to Ensure Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

June 15, 2021

Craig called attention to persistent gaps in vaccine distribution efforts impacting Black, Indigenous and Hispanic Minnesotans – and argued that her legislation could help address those disparities

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, in a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, U.S. Representative Angie Craig questioned public health experts on the Biden Administration's ongoing efforts to equitably distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine. At the hearing, Craig applauded the historic achievement of delivering more than 309 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine – made possible by the $7.5 billion provided to the Centers for Disease Control for vaccine distribution and administration.

But Craig also reminded her colleagues that, in Minnesota, the statewide vaccination rate among Black, Indigenous and Hispanic Minnesotans is around 50% – compared to 62% among white residents. In an effort to close that gap, Craig asked public health expert Rebecca Coyle how Craig's legislation, the Vaccine Fairness Act, would help to improve immunization efforts by identifying and addressing racial, ethnic and geographic barriers to care.

Earlier this year, Representative Craig introduced the Vaccine Fairness Act, which would direct the Biden Administration to report on their efforts to effectively deliver and administer the vaccine to all communities and require the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to report vaccination rates by race, ethnicity and geography.

A video from Representative Craig's questioning is available here.