The Washington State Department of Health appears to be allowing COVID-19 vaccine providers to distribute inoculations based on race, particularly one which places whites on a "standby" list while scheduling non-whites online, a local radio station is reporting Thursday.
KTTH in Seattle says the website for the African American Reach and Teach Health Ministry, a vaccine distributor authorized by the state department of health, questions those seeking inoculation appointments for their race, and if an individual indicates they’re white, it makes them unable to access appointment times and dates.
"Part of the reason we ask that is because of the funding that we receive," AARTH consultant Twanda Hill told the "Jason Rantz Show" on KTTH. "They want to know. ... We have funding because we are able to reach people of color. Federal funding, state funding, county funding. They want to know who are we serving."
KTTH says if an individual designates themselves as non-white, they are directed to schedule an appointment. If they select white as their race, the individual is informed they are placed on a waiting list and will be contacted if there is an opening.
The radio station said it asked the Department of Health several times if the practice violates state law and was only told that it was taking the necessary steps to provide "equitable" access to the vaccine.
The Washington health department states on its website: "The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. DOH doesn't exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex."
In a respone to an email inquiry from Newsmax, the Washington Department of Health indicated that exclusion by race was permitted under federal guidelines.
"[Washington] DOH’s role is to coordinate provider enrollment in the federal COVID-19 vaccine program (which does not prohibit this type of practice) and to provide state guidance on prioritization," according to a statement from DOH spokeswoman Kristen Maki obtained Friday. "Our guidance is based on risk factors for COVID-19."
However, Maki also appeared to suggest that AARTH was not discriminating based on race.
"If a provider has blocks of appointments for different groups, it may be possible the block for one group has filled while the block for another still has openings," her statement said. "When creating a waitlist, providers should develop a plan to reach out to those most at risk, such as people of color, those over 65, and those with disabilities.
"Someone who isn’t part of a high-risk group a provider is prioritizing may not be able to participate in a specific event or get an appointment in a specific block of time. That does not mean they are being denied a vaccine."
Vermont in early April announced a policy specifically prioritizing non-whites and excluding whites in COVID-19 vaccinations, a practice the former director of the Discovery Institute advocacy group claimed was a violation of federal law.
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