Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger urged the state Wednesday to expand vaccine availability to all Vermonters of color.
Vermont announced new vaccine eligibility for some high-risk groups on Tuesday, including new access for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. Beginning next week, any person of color who is eligible for the vaccine may now bring their entire household to get vaccinated.
At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Weinberger called the guidance an “important step,” but said the state should do more.
“We have reached the point where we can offer [the vaccine] to anyone with a health risk factor,” he said. “I think race has proven to be a risk factor in this pandemic.”
Vermont’s vaccine rollout has drawn criticism for its wide racial disparities. Although 22% of white Vermonters are now vaccinated, just 10% of Black Vermonters, 13% of Asian Vermonters, and 4% of Indigenous Vermonters have received the vaccine so far, according to Department of Health data.
The disparity persists even when age is accounted for: 56% of white people over age 65 have been vaccinated, versus just 45% of people of color who are over 65.
Critics argue the state’s choice of “age banding” as a vaccine strategy has systematically left out people of color, due to racial disparities in health and life expectancy.
“A vaccination program that prioritizes long-term care facilities and age 75 years and older,” wrote racial justice advocate Mark Hughes last month, “effectively excludes non-white Vermonters who are at disproportionate risk for contracting the virus and for more serious outcomes, such as hospitalization.”
On Wednesday, Weinberger called for the state to open vaccine eligibility for all people of color, regardless if they meet other eligibility requirements. He also voiced support for making essential city workers — like snowplow drivers and wastewater plant operators — eligible for the vaccine, too.
“The city is prepared to back this up and support this effort,” he said.
Weinberger also touted Burlington’s efforts to address racial disparities in the city, which include vaccine clinics for non-English speakers and specialized outreach teams.
Despite those efforts, communities of color in Chittenden County have had higher rates of Covid cases than anywhere else in the state. According to data released by the Department of Health last month, people of color in Chittenden County have 637 Covid cases per 10,000 people — more than twice the rate seen in communities of color in any other county.
In comparison, white people across Vermont have contracted Covid at a rate of 170 cases per 10,000.
City officials also discussed case growth in Chittenden County on Wednesday.
The county, like the rest of the state, has had an uptick in cases in recent days, averaging 37 cases a day over the past week compared to 28 per day the week before.
Dr. Stephen Leffler, president of University of Vermont Medical Center, said 10 Covid patients are hospitalized at the medical center, an increase from seven last week, but down significantly from January numbers, which ranged between 15 and 25.
The decrease was “so encouraging, and so important,” he said.
UVM also reported stabilizing cases among its students for a second week, after seeing rising numbers at the beginning of the semester. Last week, 31 students tested positive for the virus, the same as the week before.
“I find great hope in where we are right now,” Weinberger said. “We’re preparing ourselves for the day, not too far away, when our lives will be able to expand again.”
