Advancing immunization equity: Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee

Immunization inequity contributes to negative health outcomes for both individuals and the population as a whole. Equitable immunization systems not only prevent potentially devastating vaccine-preventable illnesses, but also generate health more broadly by attracting people, including marginalized populations, into healthcare to improve other health inequalities. While longstanding inequities in vaccination persist, immunization equity is a requirement of an optimized vaccination system. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, has amplified the existence and impact of health disparities, inequities and inequalities in the United States. People from marginalized and disadvantaged populations, as well as indigenous, institutionalized, homeless and incarcerated people have higher morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19 than those in the general public, and these inequities not only impact individuals of those populations but also the overall health of the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the importance of protecting everyone to stop the spread of disease, but widespread immunization inequity is a longstanding and persistent plague to immunization uptake for almost all recommended vaccines. (author abstract)