Community Equity Vaccine Clinics Try to Fight Coronavirus Together

May 17, 2021 / KGNU News / Coronavirus, Featured

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – the CDC – granted emergency approval on Wednesday, May 12th for the use of the Pfizer COVID vaccine in kids aged 12 to 15. This will open up vaccine eligibility to the age group that is currently driving case rates in the state. Community organizations and nonprofits have been trying to make access to the shots more accessible by hosting vaccine clinics.

Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin with Oscar Flores of Salva Mas at the drive-thru vaccination clinic in Lafayette

230 people from underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities groups were able to get the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Sunday, May 9th at a pop-up Vaccine Equity drive-thru Clinic in Lafayette. The drive-thru clinic was the result of a partnership between community-based organizations such as the Latino Chamber of Boulder County, Suma Latina BOCO Suma Boulder County, Servicios de la Raza, Colorado Equity Taskforce, Salva Mas and Ventanilla de Salud.

KGNU’s equity bilingual reporter Rossana Longo dropped by the clinic and spoke with Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin, Oscar Flores with Salva Mas, Rudy Gonzalez with Servicios de la Raza, Dr. Ricardo Gonzales with Ventanilla de Salud and Berenice Garcia Tellez with the Latino Chamber of Commerce.

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Martin Better Longo with BOCO Suma (right) and Rudy Gonzales with Servicios de la Raza at the Equity Clinic in LaFayette

90% of those vaccinated were Hispanic/Latino and 10% Non-Hispanic they also saw Asian and African American people during the event. 33% were from Lafayette, 23% Longmont, 14% Boulder, and the other 30% from Westminster and Louisville. The second dose will take place at the same place in Lafayette on June 6th. For more information on where to get vaccinated, go to Boulder County Suma Latina.

KGNU is part of a group of 10 newsrooms funded by the Colorado Media Project to address COVID Vaccine Hesitancy Among Impacted Communities. Support for this program comes in part from the Colorado Media Project, in collaboration with the Rose Community Foundation and The Colorado Health Foundation.

For more information on where to get vaccinated, go to Boulder County Public Health and for community events and services visit Boulder County SUMA Latina on Facebook.