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As our country continues to reflect on the devastating impact of Covid-19 and the World Health Organization noted that the ‘end is in sight’ for the pandemic, we need to recognize and address the disproportionate hardships that Black and Latino communities have faced over the last two plus years. Latino communities, who experienced some of the highest infection, hospitalization, and death rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., were mostly forgotten and excluded when testing and vaccine efforts were planned and executed. In addition to the continued spread of the virus in our communities, there has been a shortage of programs to support families and individuals whose economic, educational, housing and nutritional needs are at risk due to the pandemic.
As new bivalent boosters have become available, and the demand for monkeypox vaccines rises, while at the same time federal funding for testing and vaccinations winds down, it is more urgent than ever to take the necessary steps to ensure the needs of Latino communities are included in future public health planning to avoid repeating mistakes that led to unnecessary suffering.