L.A. Parker: Hakuna Matata, Vacuna Gratis, Vaccine Free
Breakfast at La Cabana Bakeshop & Restaurant on Dayton St. offered typically wonderful fare.
Conversation served up interesting insights about this city’s fight against COVID-19.
Laura Mora, girlfriend and Latin American Legal Defense & Education Fund community organizer, worked during breakfast.
Always an ambassador for LALDEF and community, Mora asked a patron if he intended to receive a vaccination.
They conversed in Spanish after his negative answer started an interrogation. Picked out key words such as por que, importante and necesito.
Porque? Importante Necesito. Why (not), important and necessary all linked to his ‘no’ answer.
The witness hemmed and hawed which drew a conclusion that hemming and hawing sounds similar in Spanish and English.
Turned out the breakfast guest thought he needed money to pay for an injection of Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson antidote. Money is tight as the pandemic challenges finances in myriad households.
Coronavirus made just about everyone similar, drowning or treading water in this titanic health crisis. Food insecurity, mental health, illness, death and employment listed as key issues.
Amazingly, accurate information became crucial to survival. Wear a mask. Six feet social distance. Wash hands regularly. Avoid large crowds.
Initially, urban misinformation suggested drinking ginger ale could limit coronavirus impact, an absurdity shadowed by a theory that skin pigmentation of Blacks and Latinos served as protection for the virus.
So, this breakfast guy pushed back against vaccination based on dollars. He admitted, straight up, his lack of extra money situation.
His whole demeanor changed when Mora hit him with — Vacuna gratis! Translation? Hakuna Matata! No worries, the vaccine is free.
In this final push toward statewide vaccination efforts, messages must be in both English and Spanish. Plus, everyone must know that vaccines are free or vacuna gratis!
Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday in another major eligibility expansion, all New Jersey residents age 16 and over will be eligible to make an appointment for the coronavirus vaccine beginning April 19.
LALDEF fostered collaborations with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton and Trenton Health Team to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, testing and information for Trenton communities hardest hit by the pandemic, with support from the New Jersey Department of Health ELC grant program.
These interactions culminated after healthcare leaders expressed concerns about inequities in vaccine access, with immigrants and communities of color especially affected.
Organizations pressed that immigrant communities in Mercer County receive reliable information in Spanish and English about COVID-19 and access to testing and vaccines.
Lorraine Goodman, interim executive director for LALDEF, celebrated the ELC grant opportunity.
A statement offered, “LALDEF is thrilled to participate in this collaboration, which will save the lives of our immigrant neighbors — many of whom have provided the essential services we have all relied on over the past year. Health equity raises all of us; it is not a zerosum game.”
LALDEF announced a twoday vaccination effort that runs through Thursday as a collaboration with Henry J. Austin.
“We hope to offer 120 injections (on Wednesday and 200 on Thursday,” Jessica Hourruitiner, a LALDEF client advocate, explained.
Clients received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the parking lot of Trenton 9th Grade Academy on Perry St.
LALDEF employees used numerous social media outreaches to connect with hundreds.
Another 500 clients have been contacted for a future mass vaccine project with Catholic Charities.