500 Santa Maria farmworkers get vaccinated for COVID-19 with help from local immigrant advocates, County Public Health

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – 500 farmworkers received their COVID-19 vaccine in Santa Maria on Sunday with the help of Santa Barbara County Public Health and local organizations.

Homero Aparicio was one of them.

"I feel at peace because I have the first dose, now time to wait for the second," Aparicio said in Spanish.

Aparicio said a co-worker told him about the COVID vaccine pilot program for farmworkers and immediately signed up for an appointment.

"I had to take advantage of this opportunity, and here I am," said Aparicio.

Public Health Director Dr. Do-Reynoso was on site to help at the pilot program that had translation assistance for those who speak indigenous languages.

"[The farmworkers] were so thrilled to be here today," said Dr. Do-Reynoso.

"I was scared to come and get the vaccine, but here I am, I got the shot, and it didn't hurt," said Hidalia Chavez, another farmworker.

Chavez said for the past 11 months, she was living with stress and anxiety. "I would go to work with fear that I would get the virus. That I would come home with the virus and get my family sick."

Dr. Do-Reynoso said there will be more opportunities for farmworkers to get vaccinated, as clinics and mobile clinics will be available soon. "We need to create clinics that are mindful of language and mindful of cultural barriers."

For daily breakdowns of COVID-19 cases in Santa Barbara County, click here.