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Cuomo Calls For Better Vaccine Access For Black And Latinx Communities

Covid-19 Vaccine
Ted S. Warren
/
AP
Cuomo talked about the need for a better vaccine distribution plan in a news conference over the weekend that included leaders of the NAACP and the Urban League.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the federal government is not doing enough to make sure that a COVID-19 vaccine will help parts of the state where the pandemic has hit the hardest, especially Black and Latinx communities.

Cuomo talked about the need for a better vaccine distribution plan in a news conference over the weekend that included leaders of the NAACP and the Urban League.

Marc Morial is National Urban League President. He is concerned that the plan for distributing a COVID-19 vaccine won’t include community-based providers like schools, churches, and small employers.

“Imagine the power that would come from learning from past mistakes, and building a plan and financing it adequately to ensure that all Americans, particularly vulnerable Americans, have access to this vaccine," Morial said.

New York Attorney General Letitia James was also asked whether she would consider legal action against the Trump administration to force a more equitable distribution of a vaccine, and she said that nothing is off the table.

James says communities of color will not be served well. She says the federal plan relies too much on distributing a vaccine through places like pharmacies and private doctor’s offices.

“These institutions are part of a healthcare system that for far too long has failed to equitably provide healthcare to communities of color. And what we will see in this nation is a patchwork of healthcare systems trying to administer this vaccination and unfortunately ignoring far too communities of color”

When asked if she might consider legal action against the Trump administration to force a more equitable distribution of the vaccine, James said that nothing is off the table.