U.S. Minorities More Likely to be Hospitalized for the Flu

By Consumers for Quality Care, on November 23, 2022

According to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and reported by Axios, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Americans were found to be 1.2 to 1.8 times more likely be hospitalized for the flu and less likely to be vaccinated than white Americans.

In the 2021-2022 flu season, around 40 percent of Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black adults were vaccinated compared to 53.9 percent of white adults. This disparity could largely be attributed to the “distrust of the medical system, misperceptions about vaccine safety, and higher levels of concern about side effects,” according to CDC researchers.

The CDC study emphasized the importance of combating misinformation and building trust within minority communities.

CQC urges lawmakers to improve health care outcomes by closing the racial gap in health care and making health care equitable for all Americans.