By Delilah Alvarado
(AUSTIN, Texas) The Austin Latino Coalition is partnering with the U.S. Hispanic Contractors Association de Austin and Curative to provide vaccines at the 63rd Annual A.B. Cantu/Pan American Summer Hillside Concert Series.
The Pfizer vaccine will be provided to those 12 and older in the A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center on July 20 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to Fox 7 Austin.
Latinos in Travis county represent a lower percentage of those eligible for vaccinations with 20% receiving one dose and 19% of those fully vaccinated.
According to Fox 7, at week 81 of the pandemic, Latinos represented 50% of the nearly 900 COVID-19 deaths in Austin, Travis County. And they represented 43% of total COVID-19 cases.
"Given the disproportionate impacts of COVID in our Latino community, we must send a strong message to fellow Latinos that the only way to rebuild our community is through immunity. The Hillside Summer Concert Series is the longest-running outdoor series in Austin, Texas, and live Tejano music, cultural heritage, and food are important aspects of our Latino culture and traditions. We’re taking vaccine opportunities directly to our community as a reminder that preserving our cultural traditions and lives are incumbent upon us being vaccinated" said Paul Saldaña, Coordinator of the Austin Latino Coalition.
The coalition will also have giveaways including gift cards and tickets to future Austin FC home games and will be providing free PPE supplies.