Intersection of Racism & COVID-19

Latinx Leaders Continue to Call for Changes to Address Disparities in Vaccination Rates

In Oregon, Latinos continue to have the lowest vaccination rate, despite being over-represented in case counts. This gap is reflected nationwide (see May 2 Atlantic story by Ibram X. Kendi here on the intersection of the pandemics of racism and COVID, and see March 29 NY Times story here), though it is starting to shrink, especially when communities impacted are leading the response (see May 14 NY Times story here).

And it is not for lack of willingness to be vaccinated, in fact, among those unvaccinated, Hispanic adults are twice as likely as white adults to say they want to get a vaccine as soon as possible (see recent Kaiser Family Foundation recent findings here).

In mid-April, Latinx leaders in Oregon came together to call on the state to do more to close the vaccination gap for Oregon's Latinx community. Among many recommendations, are:

• Create a solid goal and benchmark for the number of Latinx people who will be vaccinated moving forward.

• Reduce registration barriers by funding a Spanish-language registration hotline, together with culturally specific organizations.

• Partner with organizations in planning and holding community vaccination events in familiar, nearby areas.

• Financially support culturally specific organizations to staff Latinx community vaccination events.

• Health care systems should prioritize equity and outreach to their Latinx patients.

See coverage: OregonLive; OPB; KGW; Lund Report

See April 28 OHA presentation to legislature on their plans to address disparities in vaccinating Latinx Oregonians.

Latinx academics, health professionals, and activists are speaking out again with an open letter published on May 21 in the Statesman highlighting the barriers that still exist for Latinx Oregonians and the critical importance of removing those barriers.