Misleading: Melinda Gates has said Black people must be vaccinated first for COVID-19 after health care workers.

By: Devika Kandelwal
December 22 2020

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In June, Melinda Gates said Black people "should be," and not must be, first in line, after health care workers, to be vaccinated against COVID-19.During an interview with the TIME magazine, Melinda Gates was asked, “Who needs [a potential COVID-19 vaccine] after health care workers?” In response to the question, she said: "In the U.S., that would be black people next, quite honestly, and many other people of color. They are having disproportionate effects from COVID-19." Subsequently, many viral posts claim that Gates said 'Black people must be vaccinated first for COVID-19, after health care workers." However, she did not say they 'must be,' rather 'they should be' because the virus disproportionately affects Black Americans. According to the Pew Research Center, COVID-19 affects Black people more is because they are more likely to live in densely populated areas. They are also likely to have other health conditions that put them at risk and are less likely to have access to adequate health care. According to reporting in The Atlantic, the idea that people of color should be prioritised for vaccination is being considered by bioethicists, but there are conflicting views on the matter. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.