REDMOND, Wash. — At times during this pandemic, the Latino population has been hit disproportionately hard by the coronavirus.
On Sunday afternoon outside the Centro Cultural Mexicano in Redmond, a line began to form at a pop-up clinic aimed at boosting the vaccination rate among the Latino community.
"I’m a little nervous to get a shot, but at the same time, I know that I’m going to get it,” said Renton resident Martha Rubeo.
Angie Hinojos, executive director of the Centro Cultural Mexicano, said the need is great.
"I think our systems have not always approached things in an equitable way that make sense to Latinos," said Hinojos.
Centro Cultural Mexicano, alongside Microsoft, Evergreen Health, and Overlake Medical Center, hosted a pop-up vaccination clinic on Sunday. About 400 slots were booked for the afternoon before the event even started on Sunday.
“What you see here today is volunteers that speak Spanish and English. You see music. A familiar place that people come to all the time for other reasons, so it makes sense to come here for vaccines, too,” said Hinojos.
As of April 30, King County data showed 46% of Hispanic people have been vaccinated compared to 60% percent of the white population.
Organizers of events like the one on Sunday in Redmond hope to close the gap.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for them to get the help that is needed in the community. And for us to beat this pandemic we need everyone to be vaccinated,” said Dr. Juan Antonio Avila, a psychiatrist with Overlake Medical Center.