HHS Warns Against Potential Bias in Long Waits to Get Vaccines

Vaccine programs with disproportionate wait times in communities of color could be deemed discriminatory, the Department of Health and Human Services said.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights released a guidance Wednesday for health-care providers and systems that get federal funding. These groups must “ensure fair, equitable access to vaccines” to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Affordable Care Act, the HHS said.

Race, color, national origin, and language spoken cannot be a barrier for communities to get vaccinated, the guidance said.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit communities of color harder than white ...