ABC13 City Hall to Highlight Response to COVID-19 Vaccine in Black and Latin American Communities

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) – As CDC data reveals disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on our black and Hispanic communities, leaders warn of unsafe behavior and misinformation about vaccines is contributing to rising infection rates in Houston and Harris County.

Eyewitness News presenter Mayra Moreno hosted the first of a two-night town hall event on Wednesday, highlighting the reluctance of our most underserved communities to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The CDC says black and Latin Americans are nearly three times more likely to die from complications from COVID-19 than whites.

“Eighty percent of the patients I have in my COVID unit are Hispanic or Latino,” said Dr. Joseph Varon, chief medical officer of United Memorial Medical Center. “Everyone went to see their abuelas (grandmother) for Christmas. Every one of them.”

VACCINE TRACKER: Track COVID-19 vaccine availability and progress in Houston

Varon said he was deeply troubled by recent videos of large gatherings in bars and clubs, and the continued resistance to wearing masks. But what’s even more worrying, he said, is that people aren’t getting early medical care or planning to get vaccinated.

“When they come to me with two and a half weeks of symptoms, shortness of breath, fever, I tell them, ‘why didn’t you come early?’” Said Varon. “There are three usual answers: If I go to the hospital, I’m going to have COVID. If I go to the hospital, I’m going to die. Very soon, number three, why am I going to the hospital, it’s going to cost me a lot of money. “

Varon said when it comes to the vaccine and COVID-19 testing, many people are unaware that the federal government is footing the bill.

“We come from a culture where we usually don’t like asking for help,” said Dr. Laura Murillo, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Houston. “I can’t begin to tell you how many conversations I’ve had personally trying to get people to pay attention to the facts, to the science.”

RELATED: Houston-area Counties Use Waiting Lists For COVID-19 Vaccine To Manage Demand

Murillo said that as officials strive to make vaccines more accessible, the Hispanic community must control their behaviors to curb hospitalizations, especially for our elderly and high-risk population.

“We come from homes where it is a multigenerational household. Even though the grandmother stays at home, there are people coming in and out of this house, ”said Murillo. “Yes, we want to bring our community back to life, small businesses of course, but you are going to pay with your life or that of a loved one if we don’t take it seriously.

State Representative Armando Walle, who is Harris County’s COVID-19 recovery czar, acknowledged residents’ frustration at the slow pace of vaccine distribution, but pledged that “help is in hand. road”.

After weeks of complaints and confusion over getting vaccine appointments, the city of Houston opened its first driving vaccination site Monday at the Del Mar stadium. Tuesday, Harris County has opened registration of its vaccine waiting list.

“We apologize for the frustration,” Walle said. “I have a 90-year-old grandfather. I have a mother who has pre-existing conditions, so it’s personal for all of us.”

Walle said that as the county waited for President Joe Biden’s distribution plan to take effect, everyone had a role to play in reducing the infection rate.

“I know we have COVID fatigue,” Walle said. “We have control. We have free will. We can wear a mask, right? We can limit the carne asadas, we can wash our hands.”

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and other panelists urged leaders from Austin to Houston to consider creative ways to reach our Hispanic neighborhoods, ranging from door to door to registering those who cannot. get vaccinated online, expanding drive-thru vaccination sites. .

“Maybe go in a van with my little cooler, and give the shots to people in their homes,” Varon said. “If we don’t reach a lot of people to get the vaccine, then we’re going to have more medical problems, we’re going to have more unusual strains of the virus, and we’re going to have people dying. despite the vaccine. “

Eyewitness News presenter Chauncy Glover will host the second night of Action 13 “COVID-19 Vaccine & Our Communities of Color” Thursday at 7 p.m. The Town Hall is co-produced with Xi Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. of Missouri City.

Thursday evening’s town hall panel includes:

• State Representative Ron Reynolds, Texas House District 27

• Commissioner Grady Prestage, Sector 2 of Fort Bend Co.

• Dr Jacquelyn Johnson Minter, director of health and social services for Fort Bend Co.

• Director Addie Heyliger, Chairman of the Board of Fort Bend ISD

• Pastor Timothy Sloan, Church of Luke

• Casondra Burkley, LCSW, M.Div

Watch live news and in-depth reporting from ABC13 on your favorite streaming devices, such as Roku, FireTV, AppleTV, and AndroidTV. Just search for “ABC13 Houston”.