Dr. Amit Desai of St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 17, 2020. Photo courtesy of CHI Franciscan

Dr. Amit Desai of St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 17, 2020. Photo courtesy of CHI Franciscan

Vaccination data reveals disparities among regions and race

South King County and certain minority groups are far behind on COVID-19 vaccine goals.

As of June 14, King County is more than on pace to meet its goal of 70 percent vaccination coverage for all people over age 16 by June 30.

At 69.2 percent, the county is only 15,000 completed COVID-19 vaccinations away from meeting the 70 percent benchmark. But the data also shows both racial and regional disparities among those who are vaccinated and those who are not.

For South King County, the largest region in the county not named Seattle, only 61 percent of the 605,000 people that live there are vaccinated. All other regions in King County now sit well over 70 percent vaccination completion and have all been there since before June.

With 55,000 people needed to meet the 70 percent benchmark, South King County is not projected to meet the goal until July 27.

When vaccination data is looked at along the lines of racial demographics, it can be seen that some ethnic groups in King County have collectively exceeded the 70 percent benchmark among all regions of the county. This is true of Indigenous and Asian American populations.

However, other minority groups, such as the Latinx and African American populations, are disproportionately under-vaccinated across King County. Neither of these groups have crossed the 70 percent threshold in any part of the county.

The Hispanic/Latinx demographic is largely projected to not meet the 70 percent benchmark until August in most parts of the county, with those living in South King County not expected to meet the goal until mid-September.

The African-American population is largely not expected to make the 70 percent benchmark before June 30, with the exception of East King County, in which 69 percent are currently vaccinated.

With only about 22,000 of the 48,000 Black people living in Seattle being fully vaccinated, that demographic in the region is not expected to meet the June 30 goal until the end of September.

Jeff Duchin with Public Health – Seattle & King County said that there are many unique communities across the county and that the reasons for not yet being vaccinated are different from individual to individual. He said some groups have long-held distrust of the healthcare system and vaccination, while others have not gotten the vaccine for cultural or religious reasons.

Duchin said other folks have a distrust of the vaccine because of safety questions and doubts generated by internet misinformation, with some people believing the vaccine will make them magnetic or infertile.

Others may have poor access to the healthcare system or may even be disenfranchised from it. Duchin said some people are concerned about the side effects of the vaccine and that the vaccine may cause them to take time off of work and lose income.

“Just because people are not vaccinated today, does not mean they will not be vaccinated in the future,” Duchin said.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
Medical examiner rules Kent female inmate jail death as ‘natural’

45-year-old woman died April 22 in City of Kent Corrections Facility

Kent Reporter photo
Kent Police Blotter: April 28 to May 11

Incidents include wanted woman, caught on camera, 99 Ranch Market robbery

Howard Hanson Dam along the Green River. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, U.S. Army Corps
Murray blasts Trump administration for cutting Hanson Dam funds

Congress had awarded $500 million for fish passage, water storage project; funds headed to red states

The Great Wall Shopping Mall, 18230 E. Valley Highway in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Great Wall Shopping Mall
Asian residents target of robberies in Kent, other cities

Kent Police issue crime alert for people to be ‘informed and vigilant’

T
Please subscribe and help support local journalism in Kent

The Kent Reporter is offering readers a new premium service that will help strengthen our mission to provide quality local journalism in the community.

City of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
Kent Police investigating city jail inmate death at local hospital

Medics transported Kent man, 36, to hospital after medical emergency in jail

t
Kent School District superintendent fined for election violations

State Public Disclosure Commission determines election law rules broken by Israel Vela, district staff

Kent Reporter Photo
Kent Police arrest husband for attacking his wife

Reportedly pointed a gun at her; assaulted family member who came to help

t
Kent Police overtime costs jump to $4.1 million in 2024

A 58% increase from 2021; two officers made more than $100,000 each in OT

Kentwood High School, in Covington. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Ex-Kentwood High teacher pleads guilty to sex charge with student

Steve Bilvais, 56, to be sentenced June 27 for communicating with a minor for immoral purposes

Courtesy Graphic
Renton, Bellevue among cities of possible measles exposure

For those possibly exposed to measles between April 30 and May 3, the most likely time to become sick would be between May 7 and 24.

A speed limiter device, like this one, will be required for repeat speeding offenders under a Washington law signed on May 12, 2025. The law doesn’t take effect until 2029. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)
WA to rein in fast drivers with speed limiters

The new law is named after four people killed in a crash last year near Renton: Boyd Buster Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson and Matilda Wilcoxson.