CDC data show disproportionate COVID-19 impact in American Indian/Alaska Native populations

public information

A CDC computer rendering of SARS-CoV-2

Press release from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new study that specifically examines how COVID-19 is affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) – one of the racial and ethnic minority groups at highest risk from the disease. CDC found that in 23 selected states, the cumulative incidence of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among AI/AN was 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic whites.

These data also showed that AI/AN who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 tended to be younger than white non-Hispanic individuals with COVID-19 infection. Compared to whites, a higher percentage of cases among AI/AN individuals were in people under 18 years of age (12.9 percent AI/AN; 4.3 percent white), and a smaller percentage of cases were among AI/AN 65 years or older (12.6 percent AI/AN; 28.6 percent white). Limited data were available to quantify the disparity in COVID-19 incidence, COVID-19 disease severity, and outcomes among AI/AN persons compared with those among other racial/ethnic groups, reinforcing the need to prioritize improved data collection as a key strategy to understand and improve health outcomes.

Recent CDC studies have shown that AI/AN are among the racial and ethnic minority groups at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Persisting racial inequity and historical trauma have contributed to disparities in health and socioeconomic factors between AI/AN and white populations that have adversely affected tribal communities. The elevated incidence within this population might also reflect differences in reliance on shared transportation, limited access to running water, household size, and other factors that might facilitate community transmission.

Funding to address COVID-19 disparities

CDC, using a multifaceted approach, has provided more than $200 million in COVID-19 funding to Indian Country, which will support tribes and tribal organizations in carrying out COVID-19 preparedness and response activities, including surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, and mitigation.

“American Indian and Alaska Native people have suffered a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 illness during the pandemic,” said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. “This funding approach will broaden access to COVID-19 resources across tribal communities.”

This CDC funding to date exceeds the $165 million directed by Congress through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriation Act, 2020, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act.

“Funding is only one step in addressing the impact of COVID-19 on tribal communities,” said José T. Montero, M.D., Director of CDC’s Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support.  “CDC is continuing to work on coordinated outreach to tribal nations through our Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances and new Tribal Support Section to provide remote- and field-based support to our hardest hit tribal communities.”

To stop the spread of COVID-19 and move toward greater health equity, CDC will continue to work with tribal nations to ensure resources are available to maintain and manage physical and mental health, including easy access to information, affordable testing, and medical and mental health care. For more information and resources for tribal communities, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/tribal/index.html.

CDC’s mission is to achieve health equity by eliminating health disparities and attaining optimal health for all Americans. CDC addresses health equity through its programs, research, tools and resources, and leadership. For information on CDC’s work toward reducing and eliminating health disparities to reach health equity visit https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/index.html.

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6 Comments
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Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

If they wanted to reduce health disparities, they create more doctors so that places like Humboldt Co could actually have real MDs rather than only NPs or PAs and Visiting Physicians over age 70.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Thank you for this information, Kym.

JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
3 years ago

Before we get the hysterics commenting, here is something from the Guardian, you can also find the same information at The Daily Mail, as to the number of minorities affected by the virus. BTW, Britain has socialized medicine, available to all.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/01/british-bame-covid-19-death-rate-more-than-twice-that-of-whites

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

Not quite. Nationalized medicine doesn’t fix human nature. “Hospitals in rural and coastal Britain are struggling to recruit senior medical staff, leaving many worryingly “under-doctored”, a major new report seen exclusively by the Observer reveals. Some hospitals in those areas appointed no consultants last year, raising fears that the NHS may become a two-tier service across the UK with care dependent on where people live.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/oct/13/nhs-consultant-shortage-rural-coastal-areas

JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
Guest
JustWantToHeartheEndoftheStory
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

The areas with the highest concentration of BAME cases are NOT in rural and coastal Britain. They are packed into East London, Manchester, Leeds, etc. Leicester was hard hit, as the virus was widespread among sweat shop workers making cheap clothes. (the business owners were also BAME) Here’s an update:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8646425/Could-Wigan-freed-lockdown-Andy-Burnham-says-clear-measures-worked.html

HotCoffee
Guest
HotCoffee
3 years ago

Who is most affected?
So far I’ve heard it’s….
Old men
Blacks
Latinos
Indians,

I haven’t heard a peep about Asians.

Lets just say it’s everyone except under 60 whites that should cover it.
Otherwise lets treat everyone that needs it without division
an acknowledge we all lack good care.

We have plenty of Doctors to puff your lips or give you breast implants but very few GP’s. So how will medicare for all work? Longer waits for everyone? How long do you wait now?