It has been almost two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, there have been many people who deny the existence of Covid-19 and believe false information about what is happening. This… misinformation/disinformation has impacted the spread of Covid-19 as well as vaccine uptake in the U.S., which stands at 58.0% of the population being fully vaccinated as of October 28, 2021. Covid-19 mitigation strategies have also been impacted with different mandates and regulations depending on the area.

The life expectancy gap between Black and non-Black Chicagoans has widened, according to a report from the Health Equity Index Committee at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Between 2012 and 2017, the gap grew from 8.3 years to 9.2… years, according to the report, which found that Black Chicagoans on average live 71.4 years, while non-Black Chicagoans live an average of 80.6 years. Historic and current racism in Chicago’s institutional and social structures have created the current state of striking inequities. On today’s show, our guests will discuss what’s driving the life expectancy gap and what is currently being done to help close this.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has existed since the early 1980s, with two groups being heavily impacted: men who have sex with men and intravenous drug users. Although infections have decreased over the years as a result… of medical advancements, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual Black women face the most severe burden of HIV and AIDS in the nation. Social and economic challenges, such as lack of access to care, discrimination, stigma, homophobia, and poverty cause Black people and people of color to have higher rates of HIV infection than their white counterparts.