Before visiting the hospital, Becerra stopped at a COVID-19 testing site and talked with politicians and health care advocates about steps to include traditionally underrepresented populations in the country’s health system.
Becerra told the mostly African American group that when President Joe Biden talked about increasing vaccination rates, “he meant everyone in America” — including Black and Hispanic populations who he said had largely closed awith whites that existed when Biden took office. Becerra is the country’s first Latino Human Health and Services secretary.
He said engagement with Black health care providers and advocates would be essential to protecting the country’s health. “If we can do our job right in this administration, it’s going to be because you’re doing your job right,” Becerra said.