Virginia website no longer discourages Spanish readers from getting vaccine
Previous translation suggested COVID-19 shots weren’t necessary
A Spanish translation on the Virginia Department of Health website telling people they don’t need the coronavirus vaccine has been fixed, state representatives said Tuesday evening.
The revision comes a day after The Virginian-Pilot reported the language problem, a mistake
that could’ve confused Spanish-speaking Virginians about the importance of COVID-19 immunizations in stopping the virus’ spread. The error could have had unintended consequences among a group known to be at higher risk of getting COVID-19 and of becoming severely ill from it.
The Spanish on the website, the state’s official center for public health information, has been rephrased, said Cecilia Barbosa, chairwoman of the health committee for the Virginia Latino Advisory Board. A sentence intended to mean the vaccines aren’t mandatory had been translated to suggest the shots weren’t necessary.
“The Spanish translation now unequivocally reads that the vaccine is not mandated,” Barbosa said.
In English: “The vaccine will not be mandatory for Virginians and there are no legal penalties for refusing it, but we urge you to get it once it’s available.”
En español: “La vacuna no será obligatoria para los virginianos y no existen sanciones legales por rechazarla, pero le recomendamos que la obtenga una vez que esté disponible.”
The issue arose during a Virginia Vaccine Advisory Workgroup meeting Monday. Dr. Rebecca Vargas-Jackson, who sits on the panel, said George Mason University students brought it to her attention. Health department staff at the meeting said they would “escalate” her concern and discuss it with the department’s communications vendor.
“There is nothing worse than providing misleading information
A sentence intended to mean the vaccines aren’t mandatory had been translated to suggest the shots weren’t necessary.
to people that are looking for some answers,” Vargas-Jackson said.
A staffer said at the time the department had worked “really, really hard” to make sure all of the content on the website had met the needs of the translation service.
Public health officials are urging everyone who is medically able to receive the vaccine to do so. Gov. Ralph Northam has called it “the most powerful tool” against the pandemic. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, told Virginians last week that 70% to 85% of the population must get the shots to achieve “herd immunity,” meaning enough people are protected against the virus that it can’t easily spread.
Of the race and identify information available, about 45% of infections have been among Black and Latino people in Virginia. The disproportionate impact on these minority groups is striking, especially among Latinos, who make up just 10% of the state’s population.
Statewide data also reflect the increased risk of severe illness for the group. About 21% of the patients who required hospitalizations have been Latino, according to state health department data.
Elisha Sauers, elisha.sauers@pilotonline.com, 757-222-3864