CA public health director & Equality California host LGBTQ+ vaccines town hall – Los Angeles Blade

LOS ANGELES — California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Tomás J. Aragón will join Equality California’s Tony Hoang on Tuesday evening for a first-of-its-kind town hall to answer any questions or concerns that LGBTQ+ Californians have about the COVID-19 vaccines. California expanded eligibility to all individuals ages 50+ on April 1, and individuals 16+ will be eligible to make an appointment to be vaccinated beginning April 15.

Tuesday’s virtual town hall is part of Equality California’s ongoing efforts to connect LGBTQ+ Californians with the resources and support they need to navigate the COVID-19 crisis — including an online Help Center (covid19.eqca.org) and help line (323-448-0126), launched in May 2020. A Spanish-language version of the Help Center will be launched in the coming days.

Research shows that the ongoing global pandemic has had a devastating impact on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer+ (LGBTQ+) community — especially LGBTQ+ people of color. Last month, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed that underlying health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ people are leave the community particularly vulnerable to the virus. A survey in Boulder County, CO, suggested that members of the LGBTQ+ community may be more vaccine hesitant as well.