Meet the Hispanic Community Leaders Breaking Down Barriers to COVID Vaccines

Fact checked by Sarah Scott

Key Takeaways

• Although 84% of Hispanic adults in the U.S. have completed their primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations, only a quarter have gotten a booster.

• As the updated booster is rolling out, community organizations are continuing their outreach efforts by offering multilingual materials and arranging transportation to clinics.

• Some campaigns are tapping into young Hispanics and Latinos, who can help relay updated COVID information to their families.
  

During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hispanic and Latino communities had disproportionately high rates of infection and hospitalizations. As cases are rising again, frontline workers are keeping up with their community outreach efforts to encourage vaccination uptake.

At the height of the pandemic, Sharon Muñoz worked as a certified medical interpreter for Duke University Health System in North Carolina, where she witnessed over 200 deaths.

“I needed to get out of the hospital,” Muñoz told Verywell. “I was the representative inside the COVID room, so I had to disconnect the patients, like, literally turn off the switch on the [life support].”

Although the work took a mental toll on Muñoz, she jumped at the opportunity to work at a vaccination clinic in the evenings when the COVID vaccines were first rolled out.

“That was a big change for me because in the mornings I was seeing people dying, but in the evenings I was seeing people getting vaccinated—a positive atmosphere,” she said.

Now, Muñoz is continuing her community efforts as a coordinator at The Latinx Advocacy Team & Interdisciplinary Network for COVID-19 (LATIN-19).

An updated COVID vaccine will be available soon as cases are climbing. Although 84% of Hispanic adults have completed their primary series of COVID vaccinations, only 25.6% have gotten a booster, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Muñoz is now tasked with encouraging her community to get the new shots. She jotted down nearly 100 people’s names at a community event so she could reach out to remind them to get vaccinated.

Related: Here's How to Plan For Your Seasonal Vaccinations This Fall

Logistical Challenges With Vaccinations

Vaccination is only part of the fight against COVID. The Hispanic and Latino communities still face limited access to healthcare, language barriers, and lack of transportation and daycare.

For instance, Muñoz said, free COVID vaccinations at the Health Department in North Carolina are only available during the week from 10 am to 2 pm, and the clinic closes during lunch hours. This makes it incredibly hard for workers who can’t take time off to get the vaccines.

For parents who have childcare duties and cannot afford daycare, Muñoz sometimes told them to bring the kids along. “Bring them. We’ll figure it out. And I tell them, ‘Take turns with your neighbors,’” she said.

Finding adequate transportation proves to be a challenge as well. “Many don’t drive because they don’t have a driver's license and don’t want to risk it. Some, they’re waiting for someone to drive them”, said Muñoz.

To tackle this problem, LATIN-19 organizes free local transportation to and from the clinic. If people live over 20 miles away, the organization charges $4, Muñoz added.

Related: How to Get COVID Care Covered This Fall

Language Barrier and Misinformation

Language barriers can hinder access to key information about vaccine services and treatments in the Hispanic and Latino communities.

Having multilingual, accessible information readily available is important for vaccine education. Ricardo Montoya, a member of the government-led Rockford Ready’s Health Literacy Task Force in Illinois, said he has recorded materials related to COVID prevention and mitigation in both English and Spanish “to let residents know their rights pertaining to vaccine access.”

While a majority of U.S.-born Hispanics ages 5 and older are proficient in English, only 38% of Hispanic immigrants said they speak English very well, according to Pew Research Center's analysis of the 2021 American Community Survey. English proficiency varies among Hispanic and Latino subgroups in the U.S.

Varying levels of government distrust also exist within the Latino communities, according to Elena, Rios, MD, president of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA).

A 2021 review suggested that Costa Rica and Uruguay had higher vaccine acceptance when the messaging came from a local health worker, while respondents from Mexico responded better to recommendations by the World Health Organization.

It’s essential to use simple and clear messages to convey the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, Rios said, along with emphasizing that vaccines are free and are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Related: ‘I Didn’t Want to Be the First’: 73-Year-Old Miami Resident Shares COVID-19 Vaccine Story

The best education tool, however, can be the younger family members. UnidosUS, the largest Latino nonprofit advocacy in the U.S., developed the ¿Y La Vacuna? Campaign to tap into the power of young Latinos through digital advertising and influencer engagement.

Joanna Kuttothara, senior manager of Health Communications at UnidosUS, said the campaign equips young people with updated COVID information so that they can protect themselves and have conversations with their families.

Nowadays, when Muñoz faces vaccine hesitancy in her community, she often asks: “Don’t you update your phone? Why do you protect your phone from viruses? Why don't you protect yourself with the booster or vaccine? It’s the same thing. It’s your life, your loved ones need you.”

Preguntas frecuentes sobre la vacunación

¿Puedo recibir la vacuna si no tengo seguro médico?

Sí, las vacunas contra el COVID son gratuitas para todos. No tienes que pagar, presentar una identificación ni tener seguro médico para recibir la vacuna o la vacuna de refuerzo. Según la Cruz Roja, es posible que el médico, la farmacia o la clínica soliciten esta información, pero solo es para ayudarles a confirmar que no tienes seguro médico. No es necesaria para recibir la vacuna.

¿Puedo recibir la vacuna si soy una persona indocumentada?

Sí, hacerse pruebas de COVID-19, vacunarse o recibir tratamiento para el COVID-19 no afectará tu estado de inmigración. Tu información médica es confidencial. Ya seas ciudadano, residente, no inmigrante o persona indocumentada, cualquier persona que viva en Estados Unidos es elegible para recibir servicios de vacunación gratuitos.

¿Me cobrarán por las vacunas, vacunas de refuerzo o el tratamiento contra el COVID-19?

Si te preocupa que te cobren, pregunta a tu médico o clínica si pueden facturarle al gobierno federal tu tratamiento contra el COVID-19.

¿Dónde puedo recibir la vacuna?

Para encontrar el centro más cercano, puedes utilizar el Buscador de Vacunas del CDC disponible en inglés y español, e incluso buscar por opciones de vacunas. Si los horarios del centro no coinciden con tu agenda, no dudes en preguntar en tu comunidad por clínicas o iniciativas como Latin-19 que puedan tener horarios alternativos. 

COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs

Can I get the vaccine if I'm uninsured?
Yes, vaccinations are free for everyone. You do not have to pay, have ID, or have health insurance to get a vaccine or booster. According to the Red Cross, the doctor, pharmacy, or clinic may ask for this information, but it is only to help them confirm you don’t have insurance.

Can I get the vaccine if I'm undocumented?
Yes, getting tested, vaccinated, or treated for COVID will not affect your immigration status. Your medical information is confidential. Whether you’re a citizen, resident, non-immigrant, or undocumented person, anyone who lives in the U.S. is eligible for free vaccination services.

Will I be charged for vaccinations, boosters, or treatment?
If you’re worried about charges, ask your doctor or clinic if they can charge the federal government for your COVID-19 treatment.

Where can I get the vaccine?
To find your nearest center, you can use the CDC’s’ Vaccine Finder available in English and Español and even search by vaccine options. If the center’s hours don’t work with your schedule, don’t be afraid to ask around in your community for clinics or initiatives like Latin-19 that may have alternate hours. We can do this. Get your vaccine now!

Read the original article on Verywell Health.