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Pandemic Readiness: Disparities Among New York City Residents Living in the Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2023

Harlem Gunness Open the ORCID record for Harlem Gunness [Opens in a new window] ,
Elsen Jacob ,
Jennifer Bhuiyan  and
Olga Hilas
Harlem Gunness*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy Administration and Public Health, St. John’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Queens, NY, USA
Elsen Jacob
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Health Professions, St. John’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Queens, NY, USA
Jennifer Bhuiyan
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Health Professions, St. John’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Queens, NY, USA
Olga Hilas
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Health Professions, St. John’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Queens, NY, USA
*
Corresponding author: Harlem Gunness; Email: hjgunness@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Background:

Queens County was identified as the epicenter of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in United States, representing a significant proportion of racial and ethnic minorities. As the pandemic surged and new variants emerged, one factor that has not been explored is the level of pandemic readiness (preparedness) in urban communities.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study using a survey to assess pandemic readiness among residents in Queens County, New York, which was disseminated online by means of elected officials. The survey included basic demographics, health status, essential supplies (such as food, water, and prescription medication), social support, spatial capacity, and access to COVID-19 health information.

Results:

A total of 306 participants completed the survey (59% response rate). Eighty-two percent of participants were not pandemic ready with only 11.4% at beginner-level and 7% advanced-level readiness. Beginner- and advanced-level readiness was more common among participants with college experience. Regarding employment, 85% of participants who were employed were not ready for the pandemic, compared with 68% of those who were not employed. More strikingly, over 60% of participants learned something new by completing the survey.

Conclusions:

This study adds to the existing literature on pandemic preparedness and highlights the need for greater outreach and education among racial and ethnic minorities.

Keywords

Emergency PreparednessNeeds AssessmentPandemicsPublic HealthSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e513
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

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