Coronavirus Vaccine Help For Spanish-Speakers In Southbridge

Press release from Renaissance Medical Group (RMG):

Feb. 22, 2021

On Monday, February 22, Renaissance Medical Group (RMG) will begin offering one-on-one vaccine registration assistance to RMG patients and adult day health care members at the RMG Center for Health and Wellness - Southbridge. Latino community and Spanish speakers will work directly with patients and members to explain the benefits of vaccination, identify vaccination appointment availability and complete appointment registrations. As the only Latino owned and operated medical group in Central MA, RMG is uniquely poised to help a community that has seen one of the highest infection rates, yet lowest vaccinations rates.

Recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation highlights the largely disproportionate share of eligible Latinos registering and receiving COVID-19 vaccines, with non-Hispanic whites accounting for 81% of vaccines administered in MA, compared to only 5% of Hispanics. The Centers for Disease Control attributes this gap to language and technology barriers, as well as accessibility to medical facilities and vaccination sites.

Over the weekend, MA state legislators including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, State Rep. Nika Elugardo joined a roundtable hosted by Sen. Ed Markey to discuss the importance of improving access and distribution of the vaccine to underserved and communities of color. In response to that dialogue, Jesus Suarez, CEO of RMG, says “We appreciate Sen. Markey’s leadership and the attention that he is bringing to the burden our communities have carried throughout this pandemic. We have seen that burden firsthand and RMG is ready and able to make a significant impact.”

For more information about RMG’s vaccination registration program, or to schedule a visit to the
RMG Center for Health and Wellness, please contact RMG Vice President, Beatriz Contes at bcontes@renaissancemedgroup.com or 774-420-2311, ext. 102.

Renaissance Medical Group is a 360° health care company providing a wide-range of wellness programs and services including primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, adult day health care, dental and in-home services. Our bi-lingual caregivers care for English and Spanish-speaking communities at locations in Lawrence, Springfield, Southbridge and Worcester.

This press release was produced by Renaissance Medical Group (RMG). The views expressed here are the author's own.