UnidosUS President and CEO: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan Must Be Equitable, Just, and Inclusive for Everyone in the Country

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WASHINGTON, DC— In response to the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency use authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS—the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization—issued the following statement:

“UnidosUS applauds the historic development and authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in such a quick timeframe, signaling that an end to the pandemic may be in sight. The pandemic has devastated our health, our pocketbooks, and the education of far too many of our children. Latinos, in particular, have experienced a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths, due to both long-standing systemic health inequities and because they make up a large proportion of health care and essential workers who have kept different sectors of our economy going. That is why it is critical that policymakers ensure that this vaccine, and all subsequent authorized vaccines, reach all communities affected in our nation.”

“This pandemic has shown that we are not ‘all in the same boat,’ but access to vaccines can be a much-needed equalizer, providing hope for all. UnidosUS and our Affiliates are working to educate and inform our community about the vaccine, but we need our leaders to do their part to make sure that this vaccine is fairly and equitably distributed to all Americans, including the Latino community.”