Update: Coronavirus Case Rates and Death Rates for Latinos in the United States


hispanic latino child girl student home coloring work wearing face mask amid COVID-19 coronavirus

The coronavirus, COVID-19, can affect anyone. But reports show Latinos and other people of color are disproportionately affected, amid worsening historical inequities. What are the data really showing? UPDATE 3/5/24: CDC releases new COVID-19 death rates by race/ethnicity. COVID-19 Case Rates for Latinos The U.S. population recently rose to 19.1% Latino. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 disproportionately sickened Latinos. Variants like Delta and Omicron sparked case surges, too. Latinos comprised 24.3% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, second only to Whites (53.8%), according to CDC data on health equity and cases on April 19, 2023. As of March 5, 2024, CDC is no longer maintaining incidence rates by race/ethnicity on this web page. Several states ...

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Martha Castilla: Promoting Health & the COVID-19 Vaccine for Latinos



Martha Castilla loves helping people.   Her compassion started as a young girl, as her family came to San Antonio from Mexico.   “I started helping my brothers and sisters when we got to this country because they didn't speak English,” Castilla said.   Today, Castilla works as a promotora de salud, or a community health worker, educating the Latino community about health and wellness.  That includes getting the COVID-19 vaccine herself – and sharing how others can, too.  COVID-19 vaccines are available and free for adults and children, and they’re the best way to protect yourself and your familia against the worst outcomes of the virus.  Because, when the pandemic hit, Latinos like Castilla were on the front lines.   “I remember when we went to ...

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#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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Protect Your Family from RSV



With the winter season in full swing, it’s peak time for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.   Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.  Most people recover in a week or two. But RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. Latino children also face a “significantly higher burden.”  “[A recent study] found that 59% of the burden of respiratory infections [including RSV] was distributed among Blacks and Hispanics, despite these population groups being ethnic minorities in the US,” MD Newsline reports.  Let’s dive into how RSV can be transmitted, common symptoms, and how you can protect yourself and loved ones from getting infected.   What Are the Symptoms of RSV?  People infected with RSV ...

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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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