Abstract

Vaccinations have made an enormous contribution to global health. Despite of these successes, humans still die of infections. Vaccines have been used for generations to regulate populations in the name of curing pandemics. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the interconnected nature of our world – and that no one is safe until everyone is safe.  Only by acting in solidarity can communities save lives and overcome the devastating socio-economic impacts of the virus. To date, the COVID pandemic has caused more than 1 million deaths in the U.S., ranking first around the world. A report released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 31 shows that from 2019 to 2021, the overall average life expectancy in the U.S. has dropped by 2.7 years. Although White Americans saw a larger decrease in life expectancy in 2021 than Black and Hispanic Americans, the harsh reality is that Hispanic Americans saw a 4 year decline and Black Americans saw a 3 year drop in 2020. No doubt the pandemic has revealed and amplified the racism and health inequities in racial and ethnic minority groups.