A new policy brief from LCH reports that state and county support for community-based organizations is vital to help vulnerable Latino communities who are being left behind in vaccination efforts. Read the policy brief here.
University of Washington, Seattle: Although significant progress has been made in vaccinating the overall population of Washington State against COVID-19, Latino communities remain vulnerable to infection as the majority remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports that in Washington State as a whole, only 35 percent of Latinos are fully vaccinated, 6 percent are partially vaccinated, and 60 percent are unvaccinated.
“With the growing threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant in our region, it is imperative that we vaccinate as many Latinos as possible before the fall when schools reopen and cooler temperatures will drive infection rates higher,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, who wrote the policy brief.
This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the 2019 Census QuickFacts website and the WA State Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.
Hispanics/Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection and deaths nationally and locally. In Washington State, as of June 15th, 2021, nearly one-third (29%) of all COVID-19 cases were among Latinos, even though Latinos only account for 13% of the state’s population. Counties with the largest numbers of unvaccinated Latinos include King (120,226), Yakima (82,916), Peirce (71,379), Snohomish (58,440), and Franklin (40,084) counties.
The attached policy brief urges county and state officials, including elected representatives, to strengthen their support of grassroots, community-based organizations. This support is vital to expand access and overcome hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines among Latinos in Washington.
Support at the state and county level will protect unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Latinos for the fall season when the spread of the Delta variant is expected to intensify.
South Park Community Center Vaccination Clinic, May 2021. Photo by Hugo Ludeña.
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The Latino Center for Health is committed to advancing the field of Latino health through building capacity to support culturally responsive research and shaping the next generation of leaders equipped to respond to current and emerging health issues facing diverse Latino communities in the state and region. Through prioritizing community-academic partnerships, professional training and mentorship, and innovative research approaches, the Latino Center for Health positions itself as a critical resource to inform policy development and effective practices promoting health in urban and rural settings across Washington state.