Publications
Seniors, Vaccines, and Fairness: The Governor and Mayor Must Ensure Black and Brown Elderly New Yorkers Get Protected
2021
Finkelstein, R. (2021, January 14). Seniors, vaccines and fairness: The governor and mayor must ensure Black and Brown elderly New Yorkers get protected. New York Daily News.
Ruth Finkelstein
Just days into its vaccine rollout, New York City risks leaving the most disadvantaged older New Yorkers behind. While the mayor and the governor compete to increase the number of daily jabs, both are neglecting to focus on who gets vaccinated. To their credit, both Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are focused on locating vaccination sites in communities of color. But a “build it and they will come” strategy is not enough to ensure older adults with particular challenges have the information, education, and effective access they need. Some people can always run to the head of the line; other people need help to get onto the queue.
In this moment of inadequate supply, we must actively assist some older adults to get through the process to get vaccinated. If we don’t, then all the available vaccination slots will be taken by the more privileged. Experience has shown what will happen: fewer older adults who are Black, Brown, poor, immigrant or low-English literacy will be vaccinated.
In this op-ed for the New York Daily News, Ruth Finkelstein argues that to ensure equity, the city’s aging services network must have a greater role in planning and implementing vaccine distribution.