Latino Outreach Underway for Vaccine Efforts

The two groups more disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic at Blacks and Hispanics, according to most data.

On Tuesday, a joint effort by Montgomery County, ACCLAMO and Telemundo was presented online in an effort to reach out specifically to Hispanics to provide information and ensure them it is safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Participating were Sadia Benzaquen, MD, Chair of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network, Val Arkoosh, chairwoman of the Montgomery County Commissioners and also a medical doctor, and Nelly Jimenez, executive director of ACLAMO, an Hispanic community advocacy group.

Jimenez acknowledged there is some fear in the Latino community regarding the vaccine not only due to doubts about its medical safety, but also about cost and what kind of documentation is required to get a vaccine.

Arkoosh explained that currently, the only vaccine being distributed by the county is going to those over 65 years of age or with one of several identified medical conditions that put them at greater risk from the COVID-19 virus.

Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Val Arkoosh

There is no cost to get the vaccine, although a fee may be sent to health insurance companies for those who have it. However, health insurance is not required to get the vaccine shot, she said.

Currently, Montgomery County is offering vaccinations at the gym at Norristown Area High School and at the Montgomery County Community College campus in Blue Bell, both of which have good access to public transportation, Arkoosh said.

The primary obstacle to getting the vaccine right now, said Arkoosh, is the shortage of the vaccine itself.

The county is only receiving 4,000 does per month and the waiting list is already 150,000 deep, she said. "And we had to vaccinate the front line medical workers first," she said.

When the county's vaccine supply is increased, there are plans to take vaccination sites mobile to reach those who cannot get to the two current locations. She said partnerships with groups like ACLAMO are also helping the county understand needs of Latino communities.

Adjustments like weekend and evening hours may help more people get vaccinated, Arkoosh said.

"It will be a while before children can be vaccinated, Arkoosh said. Currently the Pfizer vaccine is approved only down to age 16 and Moderna down to age 18. 

"Hopefully we be able to vaccinate down to age 12 by late spring, she said, adding for younger, it may not be possible to vaccinate them until end of the fall.

Dr. Sadia Benzaquen

Benzaquen, who sometimes spoke in Spanish, said the vaccines are "absolutely safe."

Further, he said,  high obesity, hyper tension and diabetes strike at higher rates among the Hispanic population, all of which increase the risk for those who contract COVID-19, all of which is why those people should be vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.

He said the two vaccines available now, from Pfizer and Moderna, protect between 90 to 95 percent from getting the disease. He recently read information from U.K. and Israel, that suggests the Pfizer vaccine may also prevent transmission.

"The only way to get out of this pandemic is to get vaccinated," Benzaquen said.

Nellie Jimenez is executive director of ACLAMO

The message, and the right person delivering that message, will be key to recovery says Jimenez.

"One of the things I think is important is the messenger," she said, saying the message has to come through people "people trust."

One avenue to explore may be training church leaders to help deliver the message about the safety and no cost of the vaccine.

"There has to be a consistency in the message we share with people," said Jimenez. "We have to get information from official sources. We get bombarded by different messages that may not be the official one." 

Latinos are affected at a rate three times higher than other populations, Jimenez said. "We have to make sure everyone has the information so they can make the right choice for their families."

Click here for a Twitter recap of the virtual town hall.