RALEIGH - On Saturday, May 15 the parking lot of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral resembled a healthcare facility. People received second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of a clinic aimed at serving Hispanic individuals.
It was a follow-up to the April 17 event in which first doses were administered.
In addition to vaccines, vision and dental tests were offered as well. For many Hispanic immigrants, access to medical services is limited. After vision screenings, many left with free reading glasses and some with referrals for more advanced treatments.
“It's a completed circle of joy, gratitude and awesomeness,” said Peter Le, executive director of St. Joseph Primary Care, which was one partner involved in the screenings and vaccinations. Other partners, Le said, were WakeMed, UNC Rex Healthcare, Duke Health, Wake County Health Department, Alignment Healthcare, City Pharmacy.
“There is one greatest lesson that I witnessed,” he added. “It was simply that doing little things with love made what is impossible indeed possible.”
Carmen Teresa Rosa, who was born in Venezuela but made Raleigh her home, was one of the people who received the second dose of Moderna. She works cleaning houses and cooking for a Venezuelan food truck. Rosa said that having the vaccine gives her a lot of peace of mind, but she prefers to continue using the mask.
“I am very grateful to the people who organized this vaccination clinic. Since I do not speak English, having the vaccination near to my church made things a lot easier for me,” she said through an interpreter.
According to St. Joseph Primary Care, their clinics have helped to vaccinate thousands. The eldest recipient was 99 years old at an event at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh. The farthest place that people traveled from for the vaccine was a group of people who came from Peru.
