Few Blacks receiving COVID vaccine than whites ZANESVILLE - Reflecting disparities statewide, Black Muskingum County residents are being vaccinated against COVID-19 at a fraction of the rate of white residents. Approximately 8% of African Americans in the county have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine at 265 people, the Ohio Department of Health reported Monday. White residents have been inoculated at nearly twice the rate at around 15%, 11,971 people. About 6.3% of Black Ohioans have been inoculated for COVID compared to 13.8% of white Ohioans. Public health officials said this could also be due to how many Blacks are eligible to receive the COVID vaccine in the state's phased approach.