Hyattsville, MD – CASA Chief of Programs and Services George Escobar issued the following statement after news broke of a COVID-19 vaccine’s 95 percent effective rate. Over the summer, CASA partnered with the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) on Phase III clinical trial and jointly succeeded in developing one of the most successful programs at engaging communities of color in the country.

“CASA’s partnership with UMD has been such a positive development amidst such an historically dark time. Through their service to their community, CASA members made sure the Moderna vaccine developed the data necessary to show it was as effective in the Latino and immigrant community as in others across the nation. Now we must ensure our elected leaders hear these stories and do everything possible to ensure these very same communities of color, who have been ravaged by this virus and have been at the forefront of finding a cure, now are at the front of the line when the vaccine is distributed, regardless of income, ethnicity, race, immigration status or health insurance access.”

George Escobar is also a medical trial participant who received the two-injection series at CASA’s Langley Park headquarters. Media can download b-roll and images of George’s injection at www.wearecasa.org/vaccinesbroll

It is well documented now that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color and equally as well documented how poor engagement with these very same communities has been in the world of vaccine research.

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With over 100,000 members across the states of Maryland, Virginia, and South Central Pennsylvania, CASA is the largest member-based Latino and immigrant organization in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit us at www.wearecasa.org and follow us on Twitter at @CASAforall