An Aurora coalition of Latinx churches, organizations, and elected officials has been formed to focus on the equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Latinx community of Aurora, particularly in the City’s two largest counties of Kane and DuPage.
Only 11.8% of Kane County’s approximate 155,000 vaccines have been distributed to the Latinx community. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health website, the number is even lower in DuPage County, with just 5.3% of its roughly 332,000 distributed vaccines.
These staggering statistics were the catalyst for the formation of LATINvaX AURORA, a coalition to ensure equity and access to the vaccine for the Latinx community in the state’s second-largest city.
With vaccines provided by both the Kane County and DuPage County Health Departments, more than 750 persons received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the LATINvaX AURORA Community Vaccination Clinic Friday, March 19.
The mandatory-registration event reached capacity in less than 24 hours.
VNA nurses will administer vaccines at the clinic, held La Sierra Banquets, 2121 E. New York St. – one of the largest Latino-owned businesses in Aurora.
The Aurorans with Disabilities (AD) equity-focused clinic – AD VAX AURORA – is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, focusing on vaccinating 300 persons with disabilities in Aurora.
—City of Aurora government