Vaccine disparities remain despite opening it up to 65+ population

More vaccines are being given across the state, but the data still show discrepancies among who is actually getting vaccinated, especially when it comes to race and ethnicity.

Two weeks ago, state health department secretary, Dr. Mandy Cohen, said the demographic differences exist because most healthcare workers are white females, in the 25 to 49 age range.

North Carolina Coronavirus dashboard - Maps, charts and data

Given that getting the shot has been opened up to the public who are 65 and up, we circled back and reassessed the data to see if the information better reflects the state's. When analyzing the data, WRAL data trackers chose to look at the first doses given right now because those have been more widely available to the public.

The WRAL data trackers found the disparities remain, despite more than 822,000 doses now being administered. The most notable discrepancy is seen in the racial breakdown where 82% of people who received the shot are white. In North Carolina, 71% of the population is white. On the flip side, 22% of the state's population is black, but only half of that -- 11% - of those getting their first dose are black.

Gender is skewed, too. Women are more likely to get the vaccine across the country and here in North Carolina. In our state, 61% of recipients are women. That's more equitable than the national average where women make up 77% of vaccine recipients.

We expected to see difference among age since this current phase is targeting people 65 and older. That age group makes up 16% of the state's population but 62% of the demographic that has received the first dose.