SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The South Bay has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result, a vaccination super center was set up in Chula Vista.
But while the super center was greatly needed, those in the Latino community are not 100% trustful of either vaccination. And that poses a problem, as statistics show 56% of all COVID cases in San Diego County are Latino.
And while that number is alarming, another eye-catching statistic shows that only 14% of Latinos have received the vaccine, and that is due in large part to distrust.
"If they are hesitant to get the vaccine, then why?" asks President of the Chicano Foundation Nancy Maldonado. "We've heard some really great feedback in terms of some of the misconceptions, and misinformation that is out in the community, and that is leading to some of these trust issues."
Chicano Foundation President Nancy Maldonado says a lot of the distrust is due to a lack of education about the vaccine.
"Part of what we are doing is education and outreach to dispel these rumors and these myths. So hopefully, people have the resources and the education they need to make an informed decision as to whether or not they will get the vaccine," Maldonado said.
In many Latino communities, the rate of infection is 5 times higher than the rate of infection in other San Diego communities. Maldonado also adds that while organizations are reaching out to get people in the Latino communities more informed, individual outreach can also play an important role.
"We want to reach out to anybody we know, that qualifies at 65 and older, and help them through the process, which can be challenging, and a little confusing. The goal is to help them get an appointment, but also make sure they have transportation to get to their appointment. I think if we could all do that at an individual level it would make an impact," Maldonado said.
