Proposal to address long-standing inequities in vaccination rates is heard, held over

Minnesota’s Department of Health has been working to address disparities in vaccine use for decades, yet significant gaps continue to exist along racial and ethnic lines and for those with disabilities.

Sponsored by Rep. Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), HF2113, as amended, would establish requirements for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and create programs to promote and measure equitable distribution to disproportionately impacted communities.

The bill was held over by the House Health Finance and Policy Committee Monday for possible omnibus bill inclusion. The companion, SF2051, awaits action by the Senate Health and Human Service Finance and Policy Committee. Sen. Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights) is the sponsor.

Rep. Kelly Morrison

“We know that BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, people of color] communities have been hit harder by the pandemic in terms of infections and deaths,” Morrison said. “We urgently need to do better in getting the vaccines to these communities.”

Among its provisions, the bill would require the department to establish a mobile vaccination program and publish or report on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, distribution of vaccines, funding for vaccines and response activities, as well as how disproportionately impacted communities are affected by the disease. It would also require the appointment of an expert on vaccine disinformation to the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group.

Several people testified in support of the proposal, including Dr. Hannah Lichtsinn, a board member for the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who shared several statistics regarding vaccination disparities and highlighted some of the reasons why they exist.  

“The reasons for this disparity are multi-factorial but they’re largely related to access,” she said. “In fact, recent polling showed that Black adults are more likely to want the vaccine than white adults, so we know the disparities in Minnesota cannot be explained by so-called vaccine hesitancy.”

Ellen Armendáriz Stumbo, a mother of two children with disabilities and a member of the Latinx community, reiterated that access is a significant barrier. She also noted that language, lack of education about the vaccine and fears regarding immigration status are also barriers.

“I support HF2113 because it has a variety of strategies to break down barriers that I have witnessed firsthand in our Latinx community,” she said. “With significant resources coming from the federal government, I do hope our Department of Health can systemically close barriers and those in my community can have equitable access to the vaccines and other resources critical for public health.”

Given the current vaccine distribution rate and inoculation goals, Rep. Duane Quam (R-Byron) asked, if the bill was to become law, would it be too late to have its intended impact.

Rep. Debra Kiel (R-Crookston) also expressed concern that it would result in public health funding being spread too thin. “That’s what my concern is,” she said. “We’re developing more rather than enhancing what is already available and helping them to be more successful.”

Morrison said the goal would be to both bolster the department’s existing efforts, as well as add additional measures to help address the structural inequities.