Asian Perspectives During COVID: COVID Vaccine Accessibility
In April to June 2021, in collaboration with the UCSF Asian Health Institute and Asian Health Caucus, we sent out a survey to the Asian community. This is the third part of our results! You can read our introduction post here, and our previous posts on Anti-Asian Violence, American Media Portrayal, and Model Minority Stereotypes
In the survey, we asked the respondents on how easy or difficult they thought about getting the COVID-19 vaccine for friends and family and in the follow up questions asked about their experience.
While most respondents feel it was easy for themselves to obtain the vaccine, but felt that it was a lot more difficult to get the vaccine for their family. Main themes highlighted include barriers to family members (elderly or lack tech skills). This question also emphasized the need for family and community support. However, discrimination and lack of access exists (stories here from Asian American voices).
Themes on COVID-19 Vaccine Accessibility
From the 93 respondents that answered the question on vaccine accessibility, we extracted a total of 8 common themes. We list some of the top themes below and in bold fonts connected themes mentioned.
Technical/education barriers, media misinformation (31) - Most of the vaccine sign ups using online systems such as MyTurn CA website were inaccessible to elderly, persons with disabilities, and those with limited English proficient. People with relatives who had tech skills or language skills were okay but those without such support systems were left out. Language barriers and media misinformation were also a concern and deterrent to getting vaccinated.
Elderly/People with Disabilities/Limited English Proficiency felt left out (28) - This population found the service technically challenging (see above), and they did not have assistance when arriving on site. They felt that their disability and language needs were not addressed when they visited the vaccine site.
Family and Community Comes together to help (24) - Due to the barriers faced by immigrants and elderly (31) family members were the ones picking up the slack. However, respondents also acknowledged that people without those support systems were left out completely.
Vaccine Distribution Inequity (13) - It was clear to healthcare providers and residents that vaccines were easier to obtain for people with resources, even though it is generally agreed that those vulnerable or under-resourced would benefit the most from it. Respondents also recall events of discrimination at vaccine sites (3).
Select Quotes (click to expand)
+ Theme: Barriers to Resources due to Technological Illiteracy, Low Educational Attainment, and Media Misinformation
" Word of mouth and Asian language media are very important. My mother was hesitant about getting the vaccine because of the rumors she heard."
" My relatives had a difficult time because they are computer illiterate and unable to sign up for the vaccine electronically. "
" There is a lot of fear in getting the vaccine. Many falsehoods are being perpetrated by social media and by word of mouth. "
" People with low computer proficiency and/or low English proficiency cannot get appointments for the vaccine. They have to rely on me to do it for them. "
+ Theme: Elderly | People with Disabilities | Limited English Proficiency Feel Left Out
"Obtaining appointments for the vaccine requires that one has digital access and speaks/reads English. Even when using the phone lines, it is all in English. More progressive areas have selections for your language, but the agent who answers asks in English "please tell me your language and I will get an interpreter for you", again, in English."
"I was hesitant to get it at first due to the potential for side effects, but after seeing more family members receive the shot without major side effects I took the plunge. "
" Just the same as other minorities that when language is a barrier or resources to help them get information / scheduling / etc is a barrier then there is a lack of compliance. "
"很大年長的，不會英文不會上網的長者，在剛開始報名接種疫苗期間遇到挫折。他們不會自己上網報名。(Very old people, who do not speak English and cannot use the Internet, encountered setbacks when they first signed up for vaccination. They will not sign up online by themselves.)"
"My friend, non-English proficient and minor mentally-disabled, had difficulty locating their COVID vaccine clinic at the hospital which was far from their house. And upon arrival, there was no one there to assist them. Feeling frustrated, they left the hospital without getting the COVID shot. "
+ Theme: Family and Community Come Together to Help
"My sibling and myself had to schedule the vaccine for our parents who were less technologically savvy and the method was through the county website. "
"For friends or family who don't speak English or have limited education, they do not have the basic life experience to navigate the system even if they are told there are resources. Many require a friend or family to show them because they are not confident about themselves or comprehension of something new and or unfamiliar. American society in a way is still foreign and embarrassing if it seems like you don't fit in. "
+ Theme: Confusion and Difficulty Among Non-Medical Workers
"It was just difficult. I got referred out from Kaiser b/c they said they didn't have availability, going onto "Myturn.gov" & not finding anything, helping family members who do not read or speak English was not so easy. "
"It was difficult to get the vaccine in March/April. but now, it is extremely easy. "
+ Theme: Vaccine Distribution Inequality
"Inequity is more prevalent than ever as people with resources get the vaccine first rather than those who really needed it. People with associations with medical personnel are able to get their vaccines early even though they don't belong to the vulnerable group. It is really sad how some people think their lives matter more than others simply because they are more wealthy."
+ Theme: Praise for UCSF
"Because I work for UCSF, I feel grateful that we were given an opportunity to get vaccinated easily. "
"As a senior patient at UCSF, it was a pleasant experience. UCSF is well organized to get their senior patients vaccinated."
+ Theme: Asian Discrimination
"I find it very disturbing that there has been so much focus on the disproportionate access and need for other minorities but little to no education or PSA for the Asian community who also struggles with access to care and are statistically also more at risk to end up in the ICU and die from COVID19. If you look at testing access, the ones in Chinatown are SELF-SERVE only. Why are there not health care providers allocated to this community when we are at least the same risk level? "
"several AAPI identified individuals experienced discriminations at vaccine sites."
+ Theme: Concern about Vaccine
" I feel the "vaccine" is a cause for major health concern and the world population is being subjected to one big science experiment. "