The COVID-19 vaccine can help alter the course of the pandemic, which has

[FOR CONSUMERS] The COVID-19 vaccine can help alter the course of the pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted low-income and minority communities. [...] In addition, Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Indigenous Americans are significantly more likely to be hospitalized and die of COVID-19 than white or Asian Americans.2 Social determinants of health such as economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment can result in worse health outcomes.3,4 The Joint Commission understands th. [...] Increasing the percentage of those vaccinated among the most vulnerable groups is necessary to change the course of the pandemic. [...] As more individuals are vaccinated, the overall community risk decreases.5 Concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines are higher among many Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native people, and intention to get vaccinated is lower. [...] Severe medical neglect (for example, the Tuskegee syphilis study) and the resulting effects of lower-quality care mentioned below has resulted in a distrust of the medical community for many.6 According to research by the Association for Healthcare Research and Quality, Black and Indigenous Americans received worse health care on 40% of quality measures than white Americans, while Hispanic and Nat.