Demographic Benchmarks for Equitable Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

After a year of unprecedented social distancing and >530,000 American deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 3 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are authorized for emergency use. Federal and state authorities based vaccination priorities on employment in high-exposure occupations essential to everyday life and on vulnerability to severe COVID-19 disease.1 By virtue of employment in high-exposure occupations2 and experience of severe COVID-19 disease and death,3 people of color—especially Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans—are expected to be prioritized for early vaccination.