Rural residents are more vulnerable and have seen higher COVID-19 infection rates, according to recent research released by the Rural Policy Research Institute’s Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. During a media call Thursday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack shared that the researchers found infection and death rates in rural America due to COVID-19 are 13.4% higher than in urban areas.
“The virus has hit all of us but hit rural America in a very specific and hard way,” Vilsack says. He attributes this to a number of factors including lack of health insurance, lack of access to health facilities and a higher percentage of underlying conditions.
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In a move to help rural residents gain access to healthcare and educational opportunities, the United States Department of Agriculture is investing $42.3 million in telemedicine and distance learning infrastructure.
WHY IT MATTERS
Rural areas have greater infection and death rates from COVID-19 because of several factors, including a much higher percentage of underlying conditions, difficulty accessing medical care and lack of health insurance.
The $42.3 million in awards includes $24 million provided through the CARES Act. The investments will benefit five million rural residents in total.
THE LARGER TREND
The Rural Policy Research Institute s Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis recently issued a report that found infection and death rates in rural America due to COVID-19 are 13.4% higher than in urban areas.
Wednesday evening, Sec. Tom Vilsack was sworn into office from his home in Iowa virtually by Vice President Kamala Harris. Vilsack wasted no time.
Thursday morning, USDA announced a $42 million investment to help rural residents gain access to telemedicine and educational opportunities.
“Rural residents are more vulnerable to serious infection and death,” said Vilsack. “[COVID] infection rates are higher in rural America according to the Rural Policy Research Institute’s report. It’s incredibly important for the Department of Agriculture that’s focused on rural development and rural life to do what it can to expand access to healthcare facilities and healthcare generally.”
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By DAVID PITTFebruary 14, 2021 GMT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa’s lagging ability to broadly deliver coronavirus vaccines to people is due to inadequate preparation, confusing communication and a lack of staff and resources at local agencies, according to public health managers and experts.
For weeks, Iowa has ranked near the bottom of states in vaccinating its citizens, and on Saturday it had the 15th-worst rate, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. The state had delivered an initial shot to 10,074 per 100,000 people, ranking it ahead of other states including Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.
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About 72% of the nearly 596,000 doses delivered had been administered as of Saturday, according to CDC data. That means Iowa hasn’t been able to administer about one- fourth of the vaccine it has received.