Black/African American Health

Immunizations and Black/African Americans

  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American adults were 10% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot during the 2023–2024 flu season than non-Hispanic white adults.1
  • Non-Hispanic Black or African American children born in 2020 were 10% less likely to be fully immunized by age 24 months than non-Hispanic white children.2
  • In 2022, non-Hispanic Black or African American females ages 19–26 were 20% less likely to have ever received a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine than non-Hispanic white females in the same age group.3

Adults

Hepatitis B (HepB)

Adults ages 19–49 who received at least one dose ever of the HepB vaccine, percentage, 2021
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
34.348.40.7
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2024. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2021. Table 4. Estimated proportion of adults aged ≥19 years who received hepatitis B vaccination, by age group, increased-risk status, and race and ethnicity.

Influenza (Flu)

Adults age 65 and older who received the flu vaccine, age-adjusted percentage, 2023–2024 season
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
66.670.90.9
Source: CDC, 2024. Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2023–2024 Influenza Season. Flu Vaccination Coverage by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group, Adults, United States, 2023–24 Season.
Adults age 18 and over who received the flu vaccine, age-adjusted percentage, 2023–2024 season
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
42.149.10.9
Source: CDC, 2024. Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2023–2024 Influenza Season. Flu Vaccination Coverage by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group, Adults, United States, 2023–24 Season.

Pneumococcal (Pneumonia)

Adults age 18 and over who ever received the pneumonia vaccine, percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
21.328.80.7
Source: CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults. Percentage of ever receiving a pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2023.
Adults age 65 and older who ever received the pneumonia vaccine, age-adjusted percentage, 2022
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
53.569.10.8
Source: CDC, 2024. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2022. Table 1. Estimated proportion of adults aged ≥19 years who ever received pneumococcal vaccination by age, increased-risk status and race and ethnicity.
Adults ages 19–64 at increased risk who received the pneumonia vaccine, age-adjusted percentage, 2022
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
23.624.01.0
Source: CDC, 2024. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2022. Table 1. Estimated proportion of adults aged ≥19 years who ever received pneumococcal vaccination by age, increased-risk status and race and ethnicity.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Females ages 19–26 who ever received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, percentage, 2022
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
50.360.50.8
Source: CDC, 2024. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2022. Table 5. Estimated proportion of adults aged 19-26 years who received at least one dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, by age group, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Adolescents

Hepatitis B (HepB)

Adolescents ages 13–17 who received at least three doses of the HepB vaccine, percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
92.092.51.0
Source: CDC. TeenVaxView Interactive .

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

Adolescents ages 13–17 who received at least two doses of the MMR vaccine, percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
92.992.81.0
Source: CDC. TeenVaxView Interactive.

Tetanus-Diphtheria (Tdap)

Adolescents ages 13–17 who received at least one dose of the Tdap booster H, percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
88.188.91.0
Source: CDC. TeenVaxView Interactive.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Adolescents ages 13–17 who received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, percentage, 2023
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
Male73.672.11.0
Female81.176.11.1
Both Sexes77.374.01.0
Source: CDC. TeenVaxView Interactive.

Children

Diphtheria-Tetanus (DTaP)

Children born in 2020 who received at least 4 doses of the DTaP vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
77.383.40.9
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib)

Children born in 2020 who received the full series (at least 3 doses of the primary and at least 4 doses of the booster dose) of the Hib vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
72.579.60.9
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Hepatitis B (HepB)

Children born in 2020 who received at least 3 doses of the HepB vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
93.092.41.0
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

Children born in 2020 who received at least 1 dose of the MMR vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
88.892.21.0
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Polio

Children born in 2020 who received at least 3 doses of the polio vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
93.493.71.0
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Children born in 2020 who received at least 1 dose of the chicken pox vaccine by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
90.791.71.0
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

Fully Immunized

Children born in 2020 who were fully immunized (combined 7-vaccine series) by age 24 months, percentage
Non-Hispanic BlackNon-Hispanic WhiteNon-Hispanic Black /
Non-Hispanic White Ratio
63.170.90.9
Source: CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1.

1 CDC, 2024. Flu Vaccination Coverage, United States, 2023–2024 Influenza Season. Flu Vaccination Coverage by Race/Ethnicity and Age Group, Adults, United States, 2023–24 Season. (Back to top)

2 CDC, 2023. Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born in 2019 and 2020—National Immunization Survey-Child, United States, 2020–2022. Supplementary Table 1. (Back to top)

3 CDC, 2024. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2022. Table 5. Estimated proportion of adults aged 19-26 years who received at least one dose of human papillomavirus (HPV vaccination, by age group, sex, and race and ethnicity. (Back to top)


Date Last Reviewed: February 2025