If/when an effective and safe vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is developed, what group(s) should be vaccinated first? For that matter, who should currently be prioritized for protection from COVID-19? Data and logic suggest the answer to both questions is the same, at least in the United States: Black, Hispanic, and Native American workers deemed essential. These groups disproportionately fill many essential worker roles. Furthermore, they are at significantly elevated risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. Therefore, people disproportionately doing work considered essential during this pandemic also incur greater relative risk of contracting and dying from the disease. The accelerated pace of vaccine development requires demonstration of effectiveness and safety in Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans. This in turn mandates that clinical trial populations include participants from these groups at sufficient statistical power, which has been a problem in the past. Essential workers at elevated risk for COVID-19 due to their race/ethnicity should be prioritized for vaccination when it becomes available as well as preventive measures now. This healthcare policy initiative could positively impact larger societal needs, including economic recovery, healthcare disparities, and progress with race relations. See:

Preprint Who Should Be Vaccinated First Against SARS-CoV-2?

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