Collectively, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color of Larimer County are taking action to decolonize systems and institutions, redefine our relationship to social movements across the board, and liberate ourselves and our people.
Larimer County, CO – ‘NoCo Gets Vaccinated’ is a grassroots effort between local community organizations, public health agencies, and partners to provide updated information and services for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The initiative aims to build trust among the community while ensuring accessibility to vaccine supply for the Larimer County BIPOC community.
Individuals who identify as BIPOC can visit www.NoCoGetsVaccinated.com for:
● Trusted, culturally relevant information in English or Spanish
● Receive assistance in vaccine access in English or Spanish
● Up-to-date vaccination information
Vaccine administration demographics in Colorado reveal only a small percentage of BIPOC communities are vaccinated: 2% Black or African American, 4.9% Latinx, and 0.5% Native American. If infected with COVID-19, Black individuals are 3.7x more likely to be hospitalized and 2.8x more likely to die than people who are non-ethnic white, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with Latinx and Native American populations experiencing similarly high rates. The data from the Colorado vaccine administration reflects not only the lack of accessibility but also the mistrust or misinformation around the vaccine.
Through coordinated efforts among community-based organizations, health care providers, and nonprofit agencies, individuals can engage with a supportive network to address questions and concerns around the COVID-19 vaccinations. The ‘NoCo Gets Vaccinated’ initiative is supported
by a growing coalition of agencies, including Fuerza Latina, Mujeres de Colores, Health District of Northern Larimer County, Alianza NORCO, La Familia/The Family Center, The BIPOC Alliance of Larimer County, ISAAC of Northern Colorado, La Cocina, Salud Family Health Center, Larimer County Health Department of Health and Environment, Poudre School District’s Office of Language, Culture & Equity, and Foothills Unitarian Church.
The coalition is organizing culturally-attuned pop-up vaccination clinics across Larimer County, catering to entire households of BIPOC families regardless of age or status. Targeting the whole family distills hesitancy and anxiety around the vaccine and provides an opportunity for safety for the entire family and/or household. Vaccine distribution efforts need to be culturally relevant and distributed in a way that builds trust in BIPOC communities.