Ensuring immigrants are vaccinated against COVID 19
Many immigrants with little or no immigration status in the United States fear interaction with government or social services agencies. That makes them especially wary of registering to get the COVID 19 vaccine, fearing that their identity could be exposed and passed on to immigration authorities.
To counter these concerns, Centro Comunitario CEUS has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Health to communicate to Hudson County immigrants the importance of obtaining the vaccine and how to go about getting it.
Contacting hard to reach immigrants
CEUS launched the project in March, hiring a Community Health Worker (CHW) and a project coordinator to reach out to about 1,200 area immigrants and their families. The goal is to reach out to immigrants who have received help from CEUS in the past, and who we believe will need assistance in securing a COVID 19 vaccination. Through phone calls, video-calls and some in-person outreach we will reassure immigrants about their fears and provide assistance in securing a vaccination.
The project team will also reach out to area churches and civic organizations that serve immigrants, offering our services and, where needed, arranging informational forums on how to get the vaccine.
Making sure the vaccine is available to all
If you know an immigrant family, friend or work colleague who needs help in accessing the vaccination, or wants to know more about it, please suggest they call our vaccine hotline: 201 605 6669 or 551 254-9934. Or they can send an email to our CHW Tatiana Ron at tron@ceusnj.org.
Project workers will ask you a few questions about your situation and background but all interviews are confidential, and will remain so.
Likewise, if you run an organization, or know of one, that serves immigrants who need information about the COVID 19 vaccine and how to get it, please call us through the numbers above.
Our partners in the project
The project is supported with funding made available through the New Jersey Department of Health – Division of Family Health Services and Partnership for Maternal and Child Health to enhance detection, response, contact tracing, and prevention of COVID-19. 
