COVID-19 Vaccination Translation Project 

AAC’s Health & Human Services Committee presents, the COVID-19 Vaccination Translation Project!

UPDATE: The vaccine is safe and effective. You don’t need an ID or insurance to get the vaccine. Everyone ages six months and older can receive the Covid vaccine. If it has been more than two months since your last shot, or more than three months since a recent Covid infection, you can receive the updated bivalent booster to increase your protection.

By debunking common myths of the vaccine in nine different Asian languages, we hope to encourage individuals to get the vaccine if they have not done so already. Individuals with limited English proficiency do not have meaningful access to COVID services (e.g., testing, vaccines, treatment, contact tracing) during this ongoing public health emergency. For many immigrants, language access is a major barrier to the COVID-19 Vaccination.

These translations address the protection of vaccination records, immigration status, undocumented immigrants, not needing insurance, an ID, or a social security to get the vaccine, common side effects, and more!

Non-English web materials are often not accessed by limited English-speaking individuals themselves but rather by friends, family, or community members who might then circulate those resources, so PLEASE DOWNLOAD & SHARE!

These translations were undertaken by: 

Springfield Vietnamese Cultural Association, Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Chinese Associations of Western MA, Bayanihan Association of America, Bhutanese Society of Western MA, Dr. Syed Irfan Makhdoom Nayyar, Syeddah Ghazala, Syed Armughan, Dr. Zoubir Benmebarek, and Farzana Junaise 


Project direction by: 

Commissioner Haniya Syeda and Commissioner Ekta Saksena, Health & Human Services Committee member

AAPIC Public Statements

March 9, 2020

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian American Commission will not tolerate racism, xenophobia, and bigotry towards the Asian American community due to fear-mongering and misinformation about the coronavirus (COVID-19). Local Asian establishments have taken a huge hit economically, and there has been a surge in verbal insults and violent attacks against Asian Americans across the country. While we understand that it is human nature to fear the unknown, targeting and discriminating against a specific group only fuels the biggest epidemic of all—racism.

In an effort to prevent further mishappenings, the Commission encourages our communities to stand up against such discrimination and emphasize the importance proper hygiene rather than acting out insensitively against others. Additionally, we highly encourage the media to dispel the spread of misinformation. Lastly, we urge our public officials to invest in emergency response and testing efforts to prepare for this evolving situation. We recognize that this is an ever-changing situation but it remains crucial to have factual information on the virus and to practice good hygiene as one would with the flu.

Helpful links:

March 27, 2020

Why Congressman Moulton’s Apology Must Be Accompanied By Action

Earlier this week, MA Congressman Seth Moulton (D-6th District) became the lone Democratic lawmaker to place his support behind H. Res 907 which blamed the Chinese government for the COVID-19 crisis. Over a dozen Republican members of Congress joined him.

We condemn the ill-conceived and ill-timed resolution. H. Res 907 puts at risk the dignity and well being of AAPIs in the US and abroad just as our communities are experiencing escalating hostilities including verbal and physical attacks as bigots and racists look for a scapegoat for COVID-19.

We demand elected officials refrain from exploiting a global pandemic for the purpose of staking a foreign policy claim.

In the wake of a significant backlash, Congressman Moulton recently released a statement withdrawing his name from the resolution and offered an
apology. While his withdrawal of support for the resolution is significant, he must work to convince remaining co-signers to do the same. Just as he led the drive to round up co-sponsors, he must lead the drive to recall the resolution and mitigate the harm, injury and distress he’s inflicted upon our communities.

Otherwise, the Congressman can keep his apology.