The CDC Has Found Disparities in Vaccine Rates Between Rural and Urban Populations
People in rural areas are receiving the Covid-19 vaccines at a lower rate than those in urban areas, potentially hindering the nation’s progress toward ending the pandemic, according to a new study published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC analyzed county-level vaccine administration data among American adults who received their first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. It looked at data from 49 states and the District of Columbia through April 10.
The agency found a lower percentage of residents in rural counties who received at least one shot than in urban counties, at 38.9% and 45.7%, respectively. The CDC also found people in rural areas who did receive a vaccine often had to travel farther to get it than people in urban areas.
