Dyane Isabel Velazquez, Vanguard University of Southern California
The Youth4Vaccines Roundtable Takeover positively impacted me to be intentional in my involvement for vaccine distribution during the White House Month of Action. The speakers from this meeting told moving experiences that they had and encouraged the audience to begin having difficult conversations with others regarding the vaccine. They also spoke on being open-minded in this process, as we simply cannot force people to get vaccinated, but must inform them of the science behind the vaccine and the benefits of receiving it. Dr. Anthony Fauci brought insightful information to the conversation in regards to how we can help others in our community to get vaccinated, the purpose of receiving the vaccine, and the vaccine’s effectiveness against newer variants. Ultimately, Dr. Fauci inspired the audience “to be a part of the solution.”
My involvement with the distribution of vaccine information began on social media, specifically through Instagram stories. Since December of 2020, I have been sharing information about the vaccine as I attended the BRAINterns Winter Webinar where Katalin Karikó, the pioneer for the Pfizer/Biotech Vaccine, went into detail on her research for the vaccine. Following this, I have been sharing posts such as scientists debunking COVID-19 Vaccine myths, vaccination sites in my community (Santa Ana, CA), and information about eligibility for the vaccine.
To further my involvement, I am a Vaccine Campus Ambassador for the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), with the intention of providing my community with the necessary information to get vaccinated. It will be my responsibility and an honor to translate vaccine information to Spanish, the predominantly spoken language in my community.
Click here to watch the full webinar.
Dyane is from Orange County, California and is a rising sophomore at Vanguard University of Southern California. Dyane is a first-generation Mexican American woman who is majoring in Biology with a Neuroscience Focus, intending on attending medical school in the future. She advocates for equality, diversity, and inclusion in any environment she is in. One of her favorite hobbies is dancing Ballet Folklórico, Mexican Folk Dance, as it brings her pride in her beautiful culture and gives her the freedom to express herself in a unique way. She aspires to become a neurosurgeon and inspire posterity.