#SaludTues Tweetchat 3/5/24─Four Years Later: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Latinos


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COVID-19 is not over. For the past four years, the virus has disrupted life and health. Data continue to show that the pandemic worsened historical health and social inequities, especially for Latinos. How can we address this? Let’s use #SaludTues on March 5, 2024, to explore health inequities facing the Latino population over the past four years (and long before that), and share solutions and strategies to promote health equity in the face of COVID-19! WHERE: Twitter WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat “4 Years Later: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Latinos” WHEN: 1-2 p.m. ET (12-1 p.m. CT), Tuesday, March 5, 2024 HOST: Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio (@SaludAmerica) CO-HOSTS: Latinx Voces (@latinxvocesllc); Moms Rising (@MomsRising); MamasConPoder ...

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Top Doctor Shares Why the COVID-19 Vaccine is Important



The COVID-19 virus is still a threat for many.   U.S. Latinos continue to suffer a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases.    Fortunately, vaccines are available and free for children and adults, and they’re the best way to protect yourself and your family against the worst outcomes of the virus!    Dr. Ramon Cancino, a family medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio and leader of the UT Health Physicians Primary Care Center, stressed the importance of getting vaccinated.   “If we have enough folks who are vaccinated in our community, it'll protect everybody else, too, because transmission and infection rates would be decreased amongst those patients, which would decrease the risk for everybody else,” Cancino said.   Find a vaccine near ...

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Are COVID-19 Vaccines Free for Adults?



We have come a long way in our fight against COVID-19, in large part thanks to vaccines that help us prevent serious illness and death.  But the virus has not gone away.  Fortunately, vaccines are available and free for adults, and they’re the best way to protect yourself and your familia against the worst outcomes of the virus!  Let’s explore how “You’re Covered” against COVID-19!  COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Adults  CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.   People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated COVID-19 vaccine.  Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect ...

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Dr. Juanita Mora: A Voice for the Latino Community and Infection Control



Juanita Mora recalls the exact moment that inspired her to be a doctor.  Her mother had fallen ill with kidney disease. A young Mora served as translator between her Spanish-speaking mother and her English-speaking doctor.   “I remember turning to my mom and saying 'Mommy, why does it take so long to see the doctor?' And she turns around and says, 'Because there's not enough doctors who speak Spanish,’” Mora recalled.   Mora went on to earn her doctorate in medicine, becoming a highly accomplished physician and making a difference for her patients in their own language.  As a leader in the field of allergy and immunology and a fellow with the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), she is delivering culturally competent care and practicing infection control ...

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Are COVID-19 Vaccines Free for Children?



Latino and Black parents were less likely than White parents to say they felt their child was “very safe” from COVID-19 when they were at school, according to a recent study.  How can you protect your children?   Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your children against the worst outcomes of the virus – and COVID-19 vaccines are available and free for children!  Let’s explore how “You’re Covered” against COVID-19!  COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Children  As of Sept. 12, 2023, CDC recommends that everyone ages 5 and older get one dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.  CDC recommends the 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax, to protect against ...

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How You Can “Come Home Covered” This Holiday Season


come home covered Multi-ethnic family exchanging presents during Christmas party at home. Young kid daughter receive gift from senior grandparent while having dinner to celebrate holiday Thanksgiving on dining table.

This holiday season, as many of us prepare to celebrate with friends and familia, it is important to do all we can to stay healthy and protect against COVID-19. To prevent severe illness, vaccines are still our best tool. The good news is: You’re covered! Updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available and remain free of cost to you! See how you can “Come Home Covered” against COVID-19 during the holidays! Should We Worry about COVID-19? COVID-19 has not gone away. U.S. Latinos continue to suffer a disproportionate share of cases. Also, CDC data shows that the percentages of positive tests, hospitalizations, and deaths have increased from October 2023 to December 2023. With holiday celebrations upon us, it’s crucial that people and their loved ones are up to date ...

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You’re Covered: How to Get a Free COVID-19 Vaccine!



U.S. Latinos continue to suffer a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases.  This not only interrupts important parts of our daily lives, but also put people at risk of serious illness and death.  Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your familia against the worst outcomes of COVID-19.  But who should get the vaccine? Are they free? Where?  Let’s explore how “You’re Covered” against COVID-19!  Are COVID-19 Vaccines Free?  Yes.  COVID-19 vaccines continue to be available to everyone in the United States free of cost, according to the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project.  Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio is partner in the project’s “You’re Covered” campaign.  “You may have ...

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Latino Families Still Facing Childcare Disruptions Due to COVID-19



Latino families with children are still experiencing COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions to their childcare arrangements, according to a new data analysis from the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (NRCHCF).   Childcare disruptions are defined as the inability of any children in a household to attend a care arrangement because of closure, lack of availability or affordability, or safety concerns.  From summer 2021 to summer 2022, these childcare disruptions remained prevalent among Latino households with children younger than 12, particularly those with children younger than 5, according to the NRCHCF analysis. Let’s explore these disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and how it continues to impact Latino families today.    The State ...

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Do You Know the CDC’s New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations?



The CDC recently announced updated COVID-19 vaccination recommendations. The update allows people ages 65 and older or immunocompromised to get an additional updated bivalent vaccine dose at least four months after their initial bivalent dose. “If you’re in this group and have questions about getting an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose, you should consult your healthcare provider,” according to Public Health Communications Collaborative. Read more about the updated vaccine recommendations and why they matter for Latinos. The Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations Other changes made by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include: Monovalent (original) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States. CDC ...

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