Secretary Becerra Requests Hispanics in Colorado Get Vaccinated

VISITED “LA ESQUINA DEL SABOR” IN AURORA

El Comercio de Colorado Newsroom

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Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, 25th secretary of the HHS and the first Latino in history to serve in this role, visited the mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic in the “La Esquina del Sabor” in Aurora, Colorado. “It’s time to get vaccinated,” said Becerra.

“We want to bring these mobile clinics right to you. You no longer have to wait to be vaccinated,” said Becerra, referring to the mobile vaccination units that the Colorado government has implemented to vaccinate the population.

Becerra encouraged Latinos, youth, and other Coloradans to get vaccinated. “We all have an obligation to take care of ourselves and our families. Getting vaccinated is the best form of gratitude for our loved ones and our community,” emphasized this member of President Biden’s cabinet.

Contact with Community Leaders

During his visit to the mobile unit, Becerra spoke with health workers and community leaders in the state. They were accompanied by Secretary Becerra, Governor Jared Polis, Senators Michael Benet and John Hickenlooper, and Representatives Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, and Jason Crow.

The health secretary’s visit is part of an effort by the Biden administration to get the majority of adults in the US vaccinated by July 4^th. HHS is helping lead this effort through a national initiative to increase confidence in vaccines. This week, the campaign kicked off a nationwide tour with mobile bus clinics.

The Challenge of Vaccinating More Hispanics

In most states, Hispanics have received a lower percentage of vaccinations compared to their proportion of the total population. However, recent data shows that this health disparity is narrowing. According to the CDC, Latinos received a higher proportion of vaccinations in the last 14 days.

Hispanics make up around 17 percent of the US population. However, in the past two weeks, 29 percent of vaccines were received by Hispanics. In Colorado, Hispanics make up 15.2 percent of vaccinations in the state in the past 14 days.