By Jason Tayer
As the Black Lives Matter movement joined the COVID-19 pandemic in serving as two of the world’s most pressing current crises, they have undoubtedly merged in terms of their effects and implications on each other. The core issue driving the BLM movement deals with inequity and disproportionate treatment of black people compared to other populations in the U.S. In light of this notion, the coronavirus has been disproportionately affecting black populations across the country, and resembles a clear example of how we need mass social change.
Bill and Melinda Gates spoke out about how to better treat black communities in terms of handling the spread of COVID-19. According to Reuters, there have been several posts claiming that Melinda wants to test the vaccine on black communities. However, deeper analysis has shown that this was a misinterpretation and that she meant to communicate that once the vaccine is safe to distribute, healthcare workers and black populations should be first priority recipients of the vaccine since they have both been unequally affected by COVID-19 cases. For instance, the state of Illinois recorded that 30% of its COVID-19 cases were held by black people when they only make up 14.6% of the population.
TIME Magazine states that since there has been a lack of ties to international health agencies within this country, Bill Gates announced that the Gates Foundation will give $1.6 to the Vaccine Alliance. This effort to bring forth an appropriate vaccine as soon as possible compliments the intentions to equitably distribute the vaccine to particularly impacted communities once it is made available.
