Lawrence Hispanic community hit hard by COVID-19, yet vaccinations lag
Vaccination rate for Hispanics in Lawrence far behind state average
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Updated: 8:46 PM EDT Apr 12, 2021
Karen Anderson
Vaccination rate for Hispanics in Lawrence far behind state average
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Updated: 8:46 PM EDT Apr 12, 2021
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PATRIOTS TERMINATED HIS CONTRACT AFTER HE FILL THE PHYSICAL. ED: A CLOSER LOOK TONIGHT AT THE EFFORT TO VACCINATE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19 AND NOW EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES OF VACCINATION AMONG A LARGE GROUP OF ITS POPULATION. EMILY: 5 INVESTIGATES KAREN ANDERSON HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT WHY THIS HAPPENNED AND WHAT’S BEING DONE TO TURN IT AROUND KAREN: THIS IS WHAT ASHANTI DEJESUS DOES AFTER SCHOOL. THE LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR IS PART OF A GROUP OF STUDENTS ENLISTED BY THE CITY TO TRY TO REVERSE A WORRYING PUBLIC HEALTH TREND. ROCK BOTTOM VACCINATION RATES ESPECIALLY AMONG THE CITY’S HISPANIC COMMUNITY. IT’S AN ALL OUT EFFORT FROM CALLS TO SIGNS TO A MOBILE CLINIC. >> WE HAVE OUR HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYEES THROUGH OUR PROGRAM THAT ARE ACTUALLY GOING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS WITH IPADS AND ASKING PEOPLE THEY WANT THE VACCINATION. IF THEY DO, WE ARE PUTTING THEM ON THE LIST. KAREN: IT’S A CRUEL IRONY THAT IN LAWRENCE AND OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARDEST HIT BY COVID FEWER PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED THAN WHITER AND WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. WHEN THE STATE FIRST RELEASED IT’S COMMUNITY VACCINATION NUMBERS A MONTH AGO JUST 2% OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN LAWRENCE HAD RECEIVED A SHOT. >> I WAS SHOCKED, SIMPLY SHOCKED . I COULD NOT BELIEVE IN SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED. AT THAT POINT, I WAS LITERALLY SHOCKED BUT FURIOUS. BECAUSE OF THAT TIME, WE ARE NOT GETTING THE SUPPLY NECESSARY TO VACCINATE OR COMMUNITY. KAREN: LAWRENCE MAYOR KENDRYS VASQUEZ SAYS THE STATE’S MASS VACCINATION PLAN IGNORED THE REALITIES OF MANY PEOPLE IN LAWRENCE WHO DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO OTHER AREAS OF THE STATE. HE PUSHED TO OPEN THIS VACCINATION SITE AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WHICH WE RECENTLY VISITED WHERE THEY ARE NOW VACCINATING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE A DAY. >> I FIRMLY AND STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF LIVES OF BEEN LOST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A SITE LIKE THIS EARLY ON. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED A VACCINATION SITE LIKE THIS ONE MONTHS AGO. KAREN: BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE LACK OF A LOCAL VACCINE SITE THAT’S CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOW VACCINATION RATES WHICH THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW IS AT 6% FOR THE HISPANICS IN LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE HAS A RELATIVELY YOUNG POPULATION AND SO MANY RESIDENTS STILL AREN’T EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR A SHOT. AND FEAR IS ANOTHER FACTOR. >> THERE IS DEFINITELY HESITANCY IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT GOES BACK TO HISTORY, A LOT OF FOLKS MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN SCIENCE. >> I WAS ONE, MYSELF. I HESITATED FROM THE BEGINNING. KAREN: FLOR MALDONADO SAYS AT FIRST SHE WAS CONCERNED IT HADN’T BEEN TESTED ENOUGH BUT AFTER LEARNING MORE AND THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACT IT CAN MAKE TO GET BACK TO A NORMAL LIFE SHE DECIDED TO GET THE SHO >> THE FACT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY LOSSES OF LOVED ONES. WE HAVE BEEN ISOLATED AT HOME. KAREN: AT THE SCHOOL VACCINATION CENTER A SENSE OF RELIEF WITH EACH NEW FACE. AT THE STUDENT CALL CENTER A SENSE OF PRIDE WITH EVERY CALL. >> SOMEDAY, MY CHILD IS GOING TO SEE THIS AND SAY YOU DID THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY. KAREN: CITY LEADERS SAY THEY WON’T REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH HESITANCY THERE IS ABOUT THE VACCINE UNTIL AFTER APRIL 19 WHEN PEOPLE UNDER 55 ARE ELIGIBLE TO GET IT. AND THAT’S WHEN THEY SAY THE TRUE GRASSROOTS EFFORT AND EDUCATION WILL M