Many youthful folks in high-income New York Metropolis neighborhoods accessed COVID-19 vaccinations earlier than they had been eligible, risking the lives of older folks in low-income areas by pushing them down the queue, in line with research within the Journal of City Well being.

Led by researchers on the College of Witwatersrand in South Africa and Columbia College, the examine used linked information from the Census Bureau and New York Metropolis Well being. 

Beginning on December 14, 2020, New York administered vaccines to high-risk hospital staff, increasing to adults 70 years and older on January 4, 2021, 60 and older on March 10, 50 and older on March 23, and people 30 and older on March 30.

Older age best danger issue for COVID demise

Within the first 3 months of COVID-19 vaccine availability, low-income neighborhoods with greater percentages of individuals 65 years and older had decrease vaccine protection (common vaccination charge, 52.8%; most protection, 67.9%) than higher-income areas (common vaccination charge, 74.6%; most protection within the wealthiest quintile, 99%). Over the yr, low-income areas additionally had greater demise charges.

If New York had targeted restricted vaccine provide on low-income areas with excessive proportions of residents 65 or older, total mortality might need been decrease.

Regardless of restricted vaccine availability, many youthful folks—particularly in high-income neighborhoods—jumped the queue to get vaccinated earlier than they had been eligible (common protection, 60% amongst residents 45 to 64 years in essentially the most prosperous quintile). A yr later, when vaccines had been broadly accessible, older residents’ median vaccine uptake was 87%, together with within the poorest space. 

“Our evaluation supplies clear proof of why U.S. policymakers should goal their distribution strategy to offering entry to lifesaving applied sciences briefly provide, focusing first on these most susceptible to extreme morbidity and mortality,” lead creator Nina Schwalbe, of Columbia College, mentioned in a Columbia news release.

The best danger issue for COVID-19 demise was older age, the authors famous.

“When rolling out a brand new vaccine, policymakers should account for native contexts and situations of high-risk inhabitants teams,” they wrote. “If New York had targeted restricted vaccine provide on low-income areas with excessive proportions of residents 65 or older, total mortality might need been decrease.”