Oralia joined the Oregon State University Center for Health Innovation in 2019. Prior to her role, she served as a Health Navigator, also known as a Community Health Worker (CHW), for the Benton County Health Department. Oralia received her bachelor's and MPH in Health Management and Policy from OSU. She is originally from Nyssa in Eastern Oregon.
June 16, 2021
As Oregon moves closer to administering a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 70% of adults statewide, disparities remain. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Oregonians have the highest vaccination rate by race and ethnicity, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. Latinx and Hispanic Oregonians have the lowest. Alyshia Macaysa is the incoming executive director of the Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition. Oralia Mendez is a manager of workforce development and community programs at Oregon State University’s Center for Health Innovation. They join us with details behind some of the state’s vaccination rates.
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