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Julia Weis

Julia Weis joined Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, in September 2020. With a degree in Communication from Trinity University, Julia has previously worked in journalism, marketing, graphic design, and technical writing. She loves biking and hiking in the Central Texas outdoors and is passionate about environmental and social justice issues.

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Articles by Julia Weis

Rosa Herrera: ¡Vacúnese por su Familia!



Rosa Herrera sabe lo difícil que puede ser luchar contra el COVID-19. En octubre del 2020, dos de sus hijas estuvieron muy enfermas con COVID-19 y tuvieron que ser hospitalizas. Herrera, también se enfermó, pero tuvo un caso leve. “Fue realmente aterrador. No podía verlas y como las dos estaban hospitalizadas al mismo tiempo, me estaba volviendo loca", dijo Herrera. Inicialmente, Herrera tenía miedo de recibir una vacuna. Le preocupaba que la hubieran hecho muy rápido, y porque no sabía lo que había en los ingredientes, que pudiera tener microchips o algo que le hiciera daño a su familia de nuevo─cosas que había leído en Facebook. Pero después de saber que la vacuna es segura, Herrera finalmente decidió vacunarse. Ella se alegra de haberlo ...

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Rosa Herrera: Get the Vaccine for Your Family!



Rosa Herrera knows how difficult the battle with COVID-19 can be. Two of her daughters were really sick with COVID-19 in October 2020 and were hospitalized during their infections. Herrera herself got sick, too, but had a mild case. “It was really scary. I couldn't see them and since both of them were hospitalized at the same time, I was going crazy,” Herrera said. Herrera was initially afraid to get a vaccine. She was worried that it was produced too quickly, and that because she didn’t know what was in the ingredients, that it could’ve been microchips or something that would harm her family again─things she’d read on Facebook. But, after learning that the vaccine is safe, she ultimately decided to get a vaccine. She’s glad she did. “I'm able to see my ...

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Jesus Larralde: Get the Vaccine So We Can Return to Normal!



Jesus Larralde is ready for the pandemic to be over. He wants to be able to spend time with his sisters and his dad, who is undergoing cancer treatment and has a weakened immune system. He’s watched many friends, coworkers, and family members get COVID-19, and has seen the long-lasting effects it can have. But Larralde was nervous to get the vaccine at first. He didn’t want it to make him sick and was nervous about the potential side effects. Larralde decided to get the vaccine when his wife Lenea was offered the Pfizer vaccine through working at UT Health San Antonio. He’s glad he did because he can spend more time with his family.And he’s doing his part to stop the spread of COVID-19. “We need to learn, and we need to understand that we need to stop spreading ...

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Jesús Larralde: ¡Vacúnense para que podamos volver a la normalidad!



Jesús Larralde está listo para que se acabe la pandemia. Quiere poder pasar tiempo con sus hermanas y su papá, que está recibiendo tratamiento contra el cáncer y tiene un sistema inmunológico debilitado. Él ha visto a muchos amigos, compañeros de trabajo y familiares contraer el COVID-19 y ha visto los efectos secundarios duraderos que puede tener. Pero Larralde al principio estaba nervioso de recibir la vacuna. No quería enfermarse y estaba nervioso de los efectos secundarios posibles. Larralde decidió vacunarse cuando a su esposa Lenea le ofrecieron la vacuna de Pfizer a través de su trabajo en UT Health San Antonio. Ahora, él está contento de haberlo hecho porque puede pasar más tiempo con su familia y está haciendo su parte para detener la transmisión ...

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Broadband Maps Show Texas Infrastructure Gaps, Particularly for Rural Latinos


Latino digital divide

Updated broadband coverage maps for all 254 counties in Texas highlight that many Texans lack the digital infrastructure needed for high speed, stable internet, particularly in rural areas and communities of color, according to Connected Nation Texas. “To close the Digital Divide in Texas, we need accurate data on where Texans are connected and where they lack basic infrastructure to participate in the digital world,” said Ellen Ray, Chair of Texas Rural Funders, which supported Connected Nation Texas in producing the maps, according to a press release. “The future of Texas education, healthcare, and economic development will depend on all Texans having the ability to access high-speed internet.” Lack of access to high-speed internet is especially prevalent in rural Latino ...

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Why Did These Vaccine-Hesitant People Decide to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?


Why Did These Vaccine-Hesitant People Decide to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

People decide to get a COVID-19 vaccine for a variety of reasons – to protect their families, to protect their health, and to help society return to normal. Some people are skeptical or hesitant to get the vaccine. Vaccine skepticism among Latinos is caused by a variety of sources, such as historical trauma from healthcare mistreatment and misinformation about vaccines that is circulated on social media. But many people are having a change of heart and deciding to get a vaccine. As a part of their ongoing research on attitudes about COVID-19, the de Beaumont Foundation, along with pollster Frank Luntz, conducted focus groups to hear from people who had changed their minds about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Let’s hear why some of these people wanted a vaccine after ...

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Survey: Latinos Want Major Changes to Immigration System


Latino immigrant survey

Latinos widely agree that the immigration system in the United States needs a large overhaul, according to a new survey by PEW Research. “A majority of Latino immigrants and those born in the U.S. share the view that the country’s immigration system needs fixing, and this sentiment extends across all ages and education levels,” according to researchers Jens Manuel Krogstad and Mark Hugo Lopez. While most Latinos agree changes are needed in immigration policy, priorities differ depending on political party and legal status. This survey of Latinos on immigration comes four months into the Biden presidency, which has promised to enact various changes that would help Latino immigrants. These include defunding the U.S. and Mexico border wall, ending family separation at the ...

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Over 530 People Spoke Up for Racial Equity and Diversity in Research!


NIH unite racial equity diversity research

Over 530 members of Salud America! endorsed our public comment to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in their Request for Information (RFI) on how to advance racial equity and diversity within the biomedical research workforce, as well as advancing research on health inequities. Other organizations like the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Council On Governmental Relations, and Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology also submitted comments. The RFI was open for comment from March 1 to April 23, 2021. At Salud America!, we believe that increasing diversity among research leaders and clinical trial participants will help achieve true health equity, especially for populations disproportionately impacted by health issues and COVID-19, like the ...

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