A Letter from Mayor Muriel Bowser Dr. Charles Drew once told the world that “excellence of performance will transcend any artificial barriers created by man.” Over the past year and a half, we have witnessed the tragic results of artificial barriers created by man and sustained by discriminatory systems that are decades and centuries old. People of color, especially Black Americans, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, both in case rates and lives lost. Even as we are on the cusp of crushing the virus in Washington, DC, those disparities persist. Today, approximately 80% of DC residents getting infected with COVID-19 are African American, and since May 1, approximately 90% of Washingtonians who have died due to COVID-19 were African American. We knew prior to COVID-19 about stark racial disparities in health outcomes here in DC and across the nation. We have addressed these disparities at our annual Maternal and Infant Health Summits. We addressed the differences in life expectancy within Washington, DC when we put forth a plan to build affordable housing in every part of our city. And even at the height of the financial crisis in 2020, we recognized these disparities by passing a budget that put us on track to deliver a new state-of-the-art hospital in Ward 8 and five Centers of ExMayor Getting Her Shot. Courtesy of The Mayor's Office of Communications cellence at Howard University Hospital. In our 2018 Health Equity Report, we specifically noted that the only way to truly discard the legacies of racism and segcinated because we must stop this virus in its tracks. We cannot allow regation is to craft a new legacy – one built on a shared vision for eqCOVID-19 to persist in our community. We cannot allow COVID-19 uity. That is why the budget I sent to the Council this year is focused to become a virus that continues to tear through Black communities on equity and on delivering a health care system that meets the needs and devastate Black families. The vaccines are safe and extremely efof all residents and makes us more resilient for the challenges that lie fective. Science has delivered us a powerful tool to transcend the barahead. We are changing how we deliver health care to ensure more resriers that causing tragic racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. idents are getting the right and most appropriate care at the right time. Please get vaccinated, DC. And we are addressing the social determinants of health such as transFind a vaccination site close to you by going to vaccines.gov or portation, education, proximity to care, livable income, and housing. texting your zip code to GETVAX (438829). At three DC locations And there is an action that everyone in our community who is – Anacostia High School, the RISE Demonstration Center, and Ron 12 and older can take right now to support this work: you can and Brown High School – DC residents 18 and older who get vaccinatshould get vaccinated. Get vaccinated because it is the right thing to ed can enter to win a free car, a year of free groceries, or a year of free do to protect your own health. Get vaccinated because it is the right Metro. All DC residents 12 and older who get vaccinated at these sites thing to do to protect the health of people around you. And get vacwill receive a $51 VISA gift card. u
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