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Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley Leads Call for Data on Breakthrough COVID-19 Cases by Racial Demographics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, has sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging them to collect and report data on racial disparities in breakthrough COVID-19 cases nationwide. The lawmakers argued that comprehensive data collection would improve experts' ability to track the spread of new COVID-19 variants and address the crucial health needs of communities most at risk during the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CDC only reports breakthrough cases that result in hospitalization or death, and these data are not publicly available by race or ethnicity.
  • Currently, just four states report breakthrough COVID-19 case data by race and ethnicity.
  • Additional data on breakthrough cases could provide critical information regarding the spread of new COVID-19 variants, including Omicron.
  • Breakthrough cases appear to be more common among people of color than among white people, even among vaccinated individuals.
  • Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities continue to be at increased risk of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
  • Rep. Pressley has consistently advocated for demographic data on COVID-19 cases to better address the pandemic's disproportionate impact on communities of color.
  • In July 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Warren urged Governor Baker to continue reporting demographic data on COVID-19 hospitalizations.
  • In February 2021, Rep. Pressley, Senator Warren, and Senator Markey introduced the Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act, legislation to require the federal government to collect and publicly release racial and other demographic data on COVID-19.

Statistics:

  • 4 states report breakthrough COVID-19 case data by race and ethnicity (no specific states mentioned in the original text, so this information is not included).
  • 1 in 5 breakthrough cases occur among vaccinated individuals, and these cases appear to be more common among people of color (no specific numbers or percentages provided).
  • Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities are at increased risk of COVID-19 cases and deaths (no specific numbers or percentages provided).

Sources:

  • Letter from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra (no date specified).
  • Text of Letter (PDF) cited in the original press release.

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