Monday, May 3, 2021

Coronavirus in rural America (Part CXXX): Rural-urban disparities in vaccine uptake in Missouri and Kansas

The Kansas City Star reports today under the headline, "'Pools of infection.'  Vaccinations surge in some parts of KS, MO while other struggle."  Here's the key data point: 

In Kansas, a 26-point gap exists between the county with the highest vaccination rate, Marshall, and the lowest, Geary. In Missouri, the gap is 33 points.

And here's a bit about the implications of the gap: 

Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, said if rural and urban areas aren’t vaccinated at the same rates, it creates the potential for “pools of COVID infection.”

“We’re a mobile society, and if you have adjacent rural towns and rural communities not vaccinated, you’re still allowing this pandemic to continue into the future,” Morgan said.



Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article251065124.html#storylink=cpy

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