Civil rights and immigrant activists be a part of public well being leaders, elected officers in calling for vaccine distribution fairness

A newly formed coalition consisting of immigrant civil rights activists, public health leaders and elected officials called on the state on Wednesday to take bold and aggressive action to ensure the coronavirus vaccine is distributed fairly.

“People’s lives are at stake,” said Dr. Atyia Martin, member of the Black Boston COVID-19 Coalition Steering Committee, at a Zoom press conference for Vaccine Equity Now! Coalition.

Eva Millona, ​​president and executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said, “COVID-19 has exacerbated what is already deep structural inequalities in our country, which has resulted in a disproportionate impact on color and immigrant communities. These differences underscore why our vaccine rollout needs to focus on those hardest hit by this crisis. “

“Our coalition has come together to urge our governor to act with the urgency and to the extent that this crisis calls for a more equitable plan to introduce vaccines – a plan that includes contributions from black, brown and immigrant. We look forward to working with the governor [Charlie] Baker to make these recommendations a reality, “Millona said in a statement.

“We’ve just watched structural racism for a year,” said Carlene Pavlos, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, at the press conference.

The same thing is happening now with vaccines, she said. “It didn’t have to be that bad. … The administration must act on a larger scale and with greater focus. “

The group made five demands to Baker. It asked the state to give $ 10 million to trusted community organizations to contact color communities. it called for the immediate implementation of Baker’s promise of 20 percent additional doses of vaccine for the hardest-hit communities; and called for clear targets to be set and monitored to ensure fair distribution of vaccines.

The group also called for improved access for people speaking other languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese, Khmer, and Mandarin. and called for the appointment of a senior official, a “Tsar for Vaccine Justice,” who is responsible for the justice and reach of vaccines.

State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz said, “This list of measures is well within our grasp as a Commonwealth.”

The press conference came the day after the Baker government announced a new initiative to make it easier for people to get vaccinated in cities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The initiative, led by the State Department of Public Health, focuses on 20 cities with high “social vulnerability” and coronavirus case numbers: Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Randolph, Revere, Springfield and Worcester.

“Our goal is to listen, respond and work together to develop a tailored approach to reach as many residents as possible and increase vaccination,” said Monica Bharel, Public Health Commissioner, in a statement Tuesday.

Millona said at the press conference: “We are very grateful for this … but much more needs to be done.”

Deanna Pan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @DDpan. Martin Finucane can be reached at [email protected].