Tulsa Hispanic Community Fears COVID-19 Delta Variant Could Spread Disproportionately

Health experts say the COVID-19 Delta variant has made its way to Oklahoma and members of the Hispanic community fear it could be spreading disproportionately.

They say the unvaccinated are the most at risk to contract the extremely contagious Delta variant. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says only 31 percent of Hispanics in the state are fully vaccinated. They also say just 22 percent of African Americans and 17 percent of Native Americans are fully vaccinated.

OU Nurse Blanca Charles works with the Hispanic community on a regular basis. She says from what she has seen and heard from the community, the problem isn't just access, but it's also fear too.

"They may not trust the system," Charles said. "You know they may not trust because of their immigration status. I think there's a lot of things behind that."

Jessica Lozano is very involved in the Hispanic community.

She says her biggest reason to get vaccinated was to protect her family, and she hopes others will do the same.

"I just look at it as like you put on your jacket when you go outside when it's cold," Lozano said. "That's another barrier of protection for yourself."

Lozano also thinks the biggest reason why people should make the extra effort to get the vaccine, is for the ones who didn't make it.

"We had so many of our community members die," Lozano said. "They died because of COVID. They didn't have the option for the vaccine. We have the luxury of the vaccine and I think we should take that vaccine in honor of the folks that have passed on."

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