dfd (Photo courtesy TK)
There was a lot of misinformation, confusion, and concerns that led to their hesitancy. It seemed to be a common theme not only in my immigrant family, but among the Latino and Black community. This experience led to the current work we are conducting at UC San Diego’s School of Medicine and in partnership with the border community of San Ysidro Health.
We work with Latinx and Black community members and leaders to identify barriers to access and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Research has evidenced that because we are more likely to be uninsured, have pre-existing conditions such as type-2 diabetes, live in high-density neighborhoods and multigenerational households, we are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and complications. Project 2VIDA’s intervention is focused on targeted strategies, health promotion, education, and outreach. Our staff provided medically accurate information that is culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate in Spanish and English, to help our community members make informed decisions about their health and their lives. We set up community pop-up clinics at parks, supermarkets, and schools. Because not everybody has the ability to take a day off from work to go to see a doctor or get a vaccine, we operated during evenings and weekends. Results In 16 months, we administered 1,718 COVID-19 vaccines, 2,239 PPE Kits (e.g., reusable and disposable face masks, hand sanitizers, oximeters, thermometers, COVID-19 educational materials), and linked individuals to 4,452 services through 88 pop-up clinics. Everybody talks about getting back to a pre-COVID normal. But I believe we need to get to a better normal. The pandemic evidenced disparities in healthcare that led to other complications that became burdens within our health provider systems. This is an opportunity to rebuild and work with our communities of color to build equity and trust that will last far beyond this COVID-19 pandemic.
Team members of UC San Diego School of Medicine’s 2VIDA! COVID-19 Vaccination Education Mobile Clinic in partnership with San Ysidro Health – August 20, 2021 (Photo courtesy UC San Diego School of Medicine)
Vaccination Education In April 2021, we were awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that focuses on combating COVID-19 health misinformation and addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. At that time, there were only seven projects awarded across the nation, and ours was the first in California. I am the principal investigator of a study known as Project 2VIDA!—a bilingual play on words that translates into Tu Vida (Your Life). 2VIDA! is also short for SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Intervention Delivery for Adults in Southern California.
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 8 – Facing COVID-19
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