Organization launches service to provide rides to vaccine clinics for WNC Latinx community

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A North Carolina organization has launched a free ride program to help vaccinate the Latinx community in the mountains.

Hola Carolina, a Spanish news resource serving Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, announced the launch of Vamos Carolina, a service that aims to provide 25,000 free rides to COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout the mountains. The service hopes to provide help for families and workers who haven't yet been able to receive a vaccine.

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Organizers say the primary barrier for vaccinations for the Latinx community in Western North Carolina is transportation.

"We do have a hotline that people can call and we're gonna be scheduling," Adriana Chavela, executive director of Hola Carolina, told News 13. "We're gonna try to be available as much as we can."

The complimentary service spans 18 counties across the state, with support coming from Dogwood Health Trust, which helped Hola purchase the van necessary for transportation, a press release from the organization says.

The primary barrier to vaccinations for our families and workers is due to lack of a vehicle. We recognize how critical it is to close the vaccination gap in rural Latinx communities by providing much-needed transportation services," Chavela added in a release. "Our program, Vamos Carolina, is aggressive because it has to be — health equity impacts our economy -- with healthier workers, we have a stronger and more competitive state. The peace of mind offered by this program will go far to improve our economy and the health of our families. We’re so grateful to Dogwood Health Trust for the initial funding to make Vamos Carolina possible.

Vamos Carolina is an initiative open to the Latinx community living in the following counties: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

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Those interested in round-trip transportation to a COVID-19 vaccination can call to schedule at (828) 989-5248 or visit holacarolina.org

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