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An analysis of the demographics of a decade’s worth of vaccine clinical trials has found that Black Americans, Latinos, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives, as well as people age 65 and older, were underrepresented as participants within these studies, though most of the differences, when compared with the U.S. population, were not especially large. Adult women, on the other hand, were found to be overrepresented. (St. Fleur, 2/19)

Vaccinating communities of color, which have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, has been a focus for both the Biden administration and many local governments. But federal data show that despite guidelines from the National Institutes of Health recommending more diversity in clinical trials, people of color are largely underrepresented. A study released Friday in JAMA Network Open suggests that the disparities started long before the pandemic magnified existing inequities. (Lozano, 2/19)

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said on Friday that racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination are “very disturbing.” Fauci made the remark during an interview on MSNBC’s “The ReidOut.” He and host Joy Reid were discussing data that showed white populations were getting vaccinated at higher rates than communities of color. (Williams, 2/20)

Stately and deliberate, with a distinctive white streak in his black hair, the Rev. Wallace Charles Smith started his Valentine’s Day sermon at Shiloh Baptist Church by talking about love and vaccinations. “That’s what love’s all about. When you get a vaccination, you are saying to everyone around you that you love them enough that you don’t want any hurt, harm or danger to befall them,” he said. “In the spirit of love, keep at it until you get your vaccination. That’s the only thing that’s going to erase this terrible scourge.” (Khalil and Powell, 2/22)

Two months after Democratic lawmakers expressed concern about potential racial disparities in pulse oximeter readings — calling the issue a matter of “life or death” — the Food and Drug Administration on Friday issued a public warning about the devices, acknowledging they had “limitations.” (Brodwin and St. Fleur, 2/19)