Krager said when vaccination began in December, vaccine hesitancy was higher among everyone, including Hispanic people.

A recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed an increase in people who had been vaccinated or wanted to as soon as possible, he said.

Certain populations have more barriers to getting vaccinated, including communication and language barriers, lack of transportation or limited time off work, Krager said.

“If you rely on word of mouth from community members and family to get information about medical things you may get some misinformation,” he said. “It’s not as easy to go online and find information in a language you understand.”

‘Show up and you can get a vaccination’

Support Local Journalism

Your membership makes our reporting possible.

{{featured_button_text}}

Krager said the county has tried to make it easier for people to get vaccinated by not requiring appointments, holding clinics on Saturdays and in locations out in the community, such as churches and schools.

The health department has partnered with the Child and Adolescent Clinic and the Ethnic Support Council to hold vaccine clinics at St. Rose Parish Center in Longview, Wallace Elementary School in Kelso and two apartment complexes in Woodland.

The Ethnic Support Council received a $50,000 grant in April from All in Washington, a statewide relief effort, to increase vaccination rates among underserved minority groups. Board President Cindy Lopez Werth said the council expanded its efforts to also reach refugees, immigrants and people with limited English skills.

###[ad_2]
Originally Appeared Here