History Repeating-How Pandemics Collide with Health Disparities in the United States

Authors

Grace McCarthy, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, 875 Monroe Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
Sarah Shore, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, 875 Monroe Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
Esra Ozdenerol, Department of Earth Sciences, Spatial Analysis and Geographic Education Laboratory, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.
Altha Stewart, Department of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center College of Medicine, Memphis, TN, USA.
Arash Shaban-Nejad, University of Tennessee Health Science Center-OAK-Ridge National Laboratory Center for Biomedical Informatics, Memphis, TN, USA.
David L. Schwartz, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, 875 Monroe Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA. dschwar4@uthsc.edu.

Abstract

Across the United States, public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have fallen short. COVID-19 has exacerbated longstanding public health shortfalls in disadvantaged communities. Was this predestined? Understanding where we are today requires reflection on our longer journey. Disparities cataloged during COVID-19 reflect the same unequal host exposure and susceptibility risks that shaped previous pandemics. In this review, we provide historical context to better understand current events and to showcase forgotten lessons which may motivate future action to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

Publication Title

Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities

Recommended Citation

McCarthy, G., Shore, S., Ozdenerol, E., Stewart, A., Shaban-Nejad, A., & Schwartz, D. L. (2023). History Repeating-How Pandemics Collide with Health Disparities in the United States. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10 (3), 1455-1465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01331-5