Residents enrolled in Medi-Cal have been vaccinated in fewer numbers compared to the general population in the 58 California counties , revealed institution statistics .
This disparity reflects a marked division in a state where daily cases of COVID infections – 19 register an increase , especially in the population that has not yet been immunized.
Medi-Cal in an alternative that offers coverage free or affordable healthcare for low-income California residents.
Close to 14 million people are enrolled in this program.
According to statistics, until 18 July close to 45% of residents enrolled in Medi-Cal who can receive go the coronavirus vaccine (from 12 years and older) have received at least one dose, compared to 70% of Californians eligible to be immunized.
This Tuesday, the California Department of Health reported 33, 407 new cases of COVID – 19 , the Most of them among residents who have not yet been vaccinated and to the high level of contagion presented by the Delta variant of the virus, currently the predominant one in the state.
This gap leaves more vulnerable of being infected by the virus to the population with low incomes.
As an example, in the county of Los Angeles has been vaccinated on 70. 1% of its residents, while Medi-Cal enrollees who have received a dose is 48. 8% .
Lower rates in rural counties
In Rural Northern California counties such as Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, or Trinity, less than 30% of those enrolled in Medi-Cal have been vaccinated , although the general population that in these locations has already been immunized does not exceed 50%.
In Tulare, a county that has one of the largest Medi-Cal listings in California, the 33% of its enrollees have been vaccinated, compared to a 48% of the rest of residents.
Disparity in Numbers
Marin County has the highest vaccination rate in California, with the 88% . However, only the 61. 5% of its residents with Medi-Cal have received at least one dose . Approximately 1 in 5 Marin residents is on Medi-Cal.
The highest percentage of Medi-Cal enrollees who have already been vaccinated is in San Francisco, with the 65%, but it is below the 84% of the general population in the county.
California health sector officials and institutions without profit-making are concerned about bringing vaccines to low-income communities thanks to mobile clinics and house-to-house campaigns.
To some experts, one of the reasons many of the people enrolled in Medi-Cal have not been vaccinated is because they cannot be absent from their work places.
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