According to recent polls, only 58% of the U.S. population would get vaccinated as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available. Black, Latinx, Native and other communities of color continue to suffer from the virus at nearly three times the rate of white people.  But as millions of dollars are invested in developing a safe and effective vaccine, the development and distribution strategies proposed in the U.S. lack a clear focus on (or in some cases, any consideration of) racial health equity and clear coordination among federal, state, tribal and other local levels. 

We have co-created a set of guiding principles for equitable vaccine development and distribution with leaders from all parts of the vaccination effort. They are designed to ensure Black, Latinx, Indigenous and other communities of color and those most susceptible to COVID-19 have access and opportunity to receive safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. 

We believe enacting these principles will mitigate some of the inevitable health inequities bound to arise with the vaccination efforts. Rather than wondering in 2021 what we could have done differently, let's begin with what we know will make a positive impact now.