Those of us on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic recognized early on disproportionate case counts, morbidity, and mortality impacting minority communities in Mississippi. Leadership at the Mississippi State Department of Health also perceived this irregularity in public health evolving, and within the first weeks of the state’s pandemic response, Dr. Victor Sutton, the director of the Department’s Health Equity program, was elevated to a command level on the COVID response team. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs explained, “Although the state encountered numerous challenges to advancing the equity mission — including early vaccine access, trust issues, and technological barriers to vaccine appointments — a statewide coalition of agency, faith, medical and community leaders was able to deliver much needed information, vaccines and PPE to minority populations across the state.”
Through these critical partnerships and community-based focus and investment, Mississippi was able to overcome health disparities in infection numbers, vaccination rates, and outcome among its minority populations. The agency’s irrefutable achievements include: a higher percentage of COVID vaccinations among African Americans than among white Mississippians; a higher COVID vaccination rate among African Americans in Mississippi compared to African Americans nationwide; a COVID vaccination rate of the Hispanic community on par with white Mississippians; and a lower overall COVID mortality rate of African Americans, per capita, when compared to white Mississippians.
These successes in addressing and overcoming health disparities are noteworthy and impressive. Dr. Dobbs’s exemplary COVID-19 response team led with transparency and competence to employ creative approaches not only to reach but also to gain the trust of traditionally disadvantaged populations within our state. As physicians and public health leaders, the important lessons of these successes should direct future efforts and strategies to improve the health of all Mississippians in all areas of public health. Congratulations to Dr. Dobbs, Dr. Sutton, and all of the community leaders who helped make this happen. It is evident that ‘partnerships’ and ‘investment’ may solve the riddle of health disparities.
Contact me at drluciuslampton@gmail.com.