Mass vaccination site to open in Hammond for Latino community

INDIANAPOLIS — A mass vaccination site will open in Hammond, IN to help vaccinate Hispanic Hoosiers:

• When: Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Where: Wolf Lake Pavilion (2324 Calumet Ave, Hammond, IN)
• Sign-up: Ourshot.in.gov
• No medical insurance or ID required, at no cost

State Representative Mike Andrade (D-Munster), the only current fully Hispanic state legislator, partnered with Lindsay Weaver, Chief Medical Officer at Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), to aid vaccination efforts toward the Latino community.

“This vaccine site will be for Hispanic Hoosiers at the heart of our community,” Andrade said. “I understand why somebody may be hesitant — I grew up with some family members who did not have medical insurance — but this shot is free, and no insurance or ID is required. There is no better way to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo weekend than to get your COVID shot.

“This vaccine will protect you and your loved ones. Come to the site and get vaccinated.” 

To overcome any language barrier, there will be Spanish-speaking volunteers at every step in the vaccination process. The site will have the Moderna vaccine. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana will also be providing boxes of groceries at the site for families in need.

“We want everybody to feel comfortable and welcomed when they get vaccinated,” Andrade said. “It should be exciting, not anxiety-inducing, to finally be protected against this disease.”

According to the ISDH vaccination dashboard, only 3.3% of fully-vaccinated Hoosiers are Hispanic, despite the Latino community representing 6.2% of Indiana’s population. In comparison, 85.2% of fully-vaccinated Hoosiers are white, who represent 86% of the population. A majority of Hispanic Hoosiers reside in Lake County.

Other partners in this effort include: Rise NWI, a nonprofit that empowers local residents; the School City of Hammond; Elise Shrock, Chairwoman of the Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus; Food Bank of Northwest Indiana; Strack & Van Til food market; Alfredo Estrada, partner at Burke Costanza & Carberry LLP; Hammond Education Foundation; and Hammond Hispanic Community.