LYNN — New data from the Lynn Community Health Center shows stark racial disparities in vaccine distribution citywide, but when taking into account which patients are eligible for the vaccine, shows that LCHC has been particularly equitable in its vaccine distribution.
The Lynn Community Health Center will receive a boost in those efforts thanks to a $6.85 million federal grant it has been awarded through the American Rescue Plan, which will enable LCHC to expand its COVID-19 vaccination, testing and treatment for vulnerable populations.
“When you look at citywide data, the numbers are not particularly equitable,” said Dr. Catherine Reyes of the Lynn Community Health Center. “But when you hone in on health center patients who are eligible for the vaccine, it was fairly proportional for our demographics.”
Citywide, the data shows Hispanics make up 45 percent of the population, yet only 21 percent of those individuals had received at least one dose of vaccine as of March 25. Asians make up 7 percent of the city, but only account for 5 percent of its vaccinated individuals. And African-Americans make up 12 percent of the city, but only 9 percent of that group had been vaccinated.
In contrast, Caucasians make up just 33 percent of the city’s population, but account for more than half, or 54 percent, of its vaccinated individuals.
LCHC reported that discrepancy stems largely from data that shows the white population in Lynn tends to trend older, and are thus more likely to have become eligible for the vaccine sooner.
“By prioritizing based on age you do tend to have a disproportionate effect on the population,” said Reyes. “That is definitely a potential flaw in the system.”
However, Reyes noted that the discrepancy could also be caused by barriers to access for the Hispanic community.
“There’s a big part of the population that needs more outreach and who don’t feel comfortable putting their information online, especially when it comes to undocumented families,” she said.
Not included in the data is information on socioeconomic status, which Reyes estimates is another area of disparity.
“Wealth matches up with computer access, with having a family member who can take a half day off of work to bring an elderly person to the site,” she said.
Among Lynn Community Health Center patients, who make up about 40 percent of Lynn residents, some of these disparities still exist but to a lesser extent, with Hispanics making up 48.2 percent of LCHC patients, but only accounting for 39.9 percent of those who have been vaccinated.
Yet when these numbers are adjusted to look at which individuals are actually vaccine-eligible, they reveal a success story of equity.
For example, 7 percent of Asian LCHC patients are vaccine-eligible and 8.6 percent have been vaccinated; 26.1 percent of its African-American patients are eligible and 25.4 percent have been vaccinated; 35.7 percent of its Hispanic patients are eligible and 36.3 have been vaccinated; and 26.2 percent of its Caucasian patient population is eligible and 26.6 percent have been vaccinated.
However, that eligibility data seen through LCHC data doesn’t exist for the city-at-large.
LCHC Chief Operating Officer Kim Eng said the data highlights the need for partnerships between municipalities and health centers, such as the local collaboration between the Lynn Community Health Center and the city, which have teamed up to operate a vaccination clinic in Lynn Tech. The clinic was praised by U.S. Sen Elizabeth Warren earlier this week when she toured the site with Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
“When cities partner with community health centers, since they partner with more diverse populations, then you’re going to get better outcomes overall,” said Eng, who attributed the health center’s equitable distribution to a robust community outreach program, using phone calls and texts from a variety of sources, and its pre-existing relationships with patients. “You’re going to be more equitably distributing the vaccines if you partner with them.”
To support those efforts, Lynn Community Health Center was recently awarded $6.8 million in funding through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan legislation, which was proposed by President Joe Biden and signed into law on March 12.
In addition to enabling LCHC to expand its COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment for vulnerable populations, the federal grant will allow the health center to deliver needed preventive and primary health care services to those at higher risk for the virus, and expand its operational capacity during the pandemic and beyond.
It will also deliver needed preventive and primary health care services to those at higher risk for COVID-19 while expanding health centers’ operational capacity, including modifying and improving physical infrastructure and adding mobile units.
“Just as the health center represents a source of stability for the lives of many of our patients, the ARPA grant stabilizes us,” said LCHC CEO Dr. Kiame Mahaniah. “The American Rescue Plan Act funding allows LCHC to not only have financial stability in the midst of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, but also to invest in our future. The funding will allow us to improve on the delivery of our services, and to support our patients more effectively.
“Certainly, it allows us to continue our wonderful collaboration with the city in regards to vaccination, but it will allow us to address some of the hidden ways in which the pandemic has affected our patients: delayed cancer screenings, chronic disease management, increased anxiety and depression. The American Rescue Plan has the potential to be a game changer for the health center.”
The funding was announced Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton who praised the work of the health center. According to Moulton’s office, the federal investment in health centers, such as LCHC, will help increase access to vaccinations in hard-hit populations like Lynn.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Lynn Community Health has been on the front lines working nonstop and risking their lives to care for the sick,” said Moulton. “They are heroes, and the work continues as cases continue and we ramp up vaccinations. This grant will help end the pandemic by getting shots in arms as fast as possible.”
As of March 25, 25,541 individuals in Lynn, or 25 percent of the population, had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Fifteen percent, or 14,815 Lynn residents, had been fully vaccinated as of that date, according to information provided by the city.
