The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021 - 14

A SENSE OF

HOPE:
INTERPRETERS/TRANSLATORS SHARE
THEIR VACCINATION JOURNEY
As the country turns to vaccination to end the pandemic, translators and
interpreters discuss what receiving the vaccine means to them.

I

n the months before every
adult in the U.S. became
eligible for the vaccine,

María Baker
Madison, Alabama

petitioning the CDC to

reminding them about the

I'm primarily a conference

explicitly include on-site

vital function interpreters and

and health care interpreter. I

medical interpreters among

translators perform for their

the decentralized structure

work about 20 hours a week at

the listed examples of health

constituents. The message

for getting needles in arms

care personnel eligible for

was clear: translators and

outpatient clinics in our local

resulted in disparity at the

Phase 1 vaccinations.1 In

interpreters are essential

local and state levels. Because

January, ATA sent another

workers in the fight against

it was left up to state and

letter urging the CDC

the pandemic.

local health authorities to

to explicitly list on-site

make the final determinations

interpreters in medical, court,

vaccination distribution

as to who qualified as

and other settings among the

program kicking into high

essential personnel for

listed examples of frontline

gear, we asked interpreters

purposes of the vaccine,

essential workers eligible for

and translators what

many frontline interpreters

Phase 1 vaccinations.

getting vaccinated means to

found themselves excluded

2

ATA encouraged its

Now, with the country's

them both personally and

hospital system. I received the
vaccine in February through
the hospital.
I was excited to see the
letter ATA wrote to the CDC
requesting that interpreters
receive the vaccine. After
sending a copy to the
Alabama Department of
Public Health, the COVID-19
task force, and the agency I

members to share the letters

professionally. We also asked

with their state and local

them if the advocacy efforts

U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination

public health departments,

of translator and interpreter

the agency that made the

Program recommendations,

hospitals/clinics, and health

organizations had an

difference in terms of my

ATA sent a letter last

care providers. Members were

impact on their eligibility

eligibility. They talked to the

December, co-signed by

also asked to send the letters

for early vaccination. Here

hospital on behalf of their

20 other organizations,

to their district's legislators,

are their stories.

interpreters. As a result, we

from Phase 1 vaccinations.
Following the release of the

14

The ATA Chronicle | May/June 2021

work with, I believe it was

www.atanet.org
http://www.atanet.org
The ATA Chronicle - May/June 2021

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