Hearing For Vaccine Accessibility and Equity Ordinances

Boston MA

26 March, 2021

3:26 PM

Description

BOSTON — Councilor Michelle Wu is bringing two ordinances to committee that aim to bring more equity to COVID-19 vaccinations in Boston: one ensures equitable distribution and the other extends paid sick leave for City of Boston employees who get their vaccine. "Black and Latinx residents of Boston have suffered disproportionately from the coronavirus pandemic, with the age-adjusted death rate for Black and Latinx residents of the Commonwealth three times higher than that of white residents," the ordinance on equitable distribution reads. "A recent Boston Globe analysis found that fewer than 14 percent of Black residents and approximately 26 percent of Latinx residents of Suffolk County live in census tracts within 1 mile of a vaccination site, compared to nearly 46 percent of white residents." The ordinance calls on the Health and Human Services cabinet to coordinate with the Public Health Commission and local hospitals and doctors to ensure that there is a vaccination site in each zip code, and that new sites open in the most impacted neighborhoods first. It also has requirements for testing and hours of operation to accommodate people with non-traditional work schedules. The ordinance for paid sick leave notes that being honest about vaccine side effects is important for building trust with residents of color who have a history of medical disenfranchisement, alongside easing the burden of side effects by providing time off. "Nationwide, more than one-third of the civilian workforce lacks access to any form of paid sick leave, and low-income workers and workers of color are particularly likely to hold jobs that do not offer employee benefits," it reads. "Research also indicates that the absence of paid sick leave policies is associated with a lower likelihood of receiving the influenza vaccine, suggesting that extending paid sick leave benefits will drive the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine." The ordinance calls for three days of paid leave, to be used during the first two days after their vaccine date. The Committee on Government operations is holding the public hearing Monday at 10 a.m., where residents can speak at the hearing or by submitting written testimony beforehand. Find the broadcast link here. To submit written testimony or ask for a link to speak during the meeting, email [email protected] or [email protected].