BETHLEHEM, Pa - The CDC reports that Hispanic and African American people are being hospitalized for COVID-19 at about triple the rate of white, non-Hispanic people. A Lehigh Valley organization is teaming up with a local health network in an effort to boost access to the vaccine in communities that may need it most.
The Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley plans to distribute 200 free Moderna vaccines from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 19.
It will continue from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 20.
“The idea behind the clinic is to make it accessible to the community and also where we have bilingual services,” says Victoria Montero, executive director at the Center.
HCLV is partnering with St. Luke’s University Health Network for the event at the Fowler Community Wellness Center on Bethlehem’s south side, home to a sizable Latino community.
“As we’ve seen from national and local data, the Hispanic community has been impacted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic. So the idea is that we’re simplifying and making it more accessible to the community to be able to get vaccinated.
“All the communication is done in Spanish, they don’t have to go through a network system through the hospital to schedule the appointment. It is in their language and it is culturally appropriate for this community,” Montero says.
Any south side Bethlehem resident aged 65 or older is eligible to sign up. For more information or to register, call the Hispanic Center at 610-868-7800.
Montero says the outcome of this pilot vaccine event will determine whether or not the organization hosts more clinics.
Vaccine appointments are still available as of late Feb. 18.
