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Access to care, misinformation accounts for vaccination rate disparity By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
As the Houston region’s leaders urge residents to get vaccinated as more and more people become hospitalized with coronavirus, public health experts say it’s worth noting the disparity in vaccination rates across the area. Misinformation has played a role in stopping some residents from getting vaccinated, but so too has a lack of access of hospitals and healthcare providers, poor transportation and language barriers, among other reasons, according to those who’ve studied the matter.
In the Leader’s coverage area alone, the vaccination rate varied drastically by zip code. For instance, some 70 percent of residents were vaccinated in the Heights zip code, compared to some 36 percent of residents in the zip code comprising Acres Homes. As of Monday, the city had 234,666 total COVID-19 cases, according to the Houston Health Department (HHD). Statewide, 66.88 percent of Texans have been fully vaccinated, and 47.6 percent of Harris County residents have been fully vaccinated. Among them is Jennifer Hilliard, who said she resided within the 77018 ZIP code. She said three out of four
people in her family have been fully vaccinated, except for her youngest son, who is younger than 12 and not yet eligible for the vaccine. “(We got) vaccinated to protect my youngest son who can’t be vaccinated and is vulnerable (due to his asthma), for those that are vulnerable in my community — anyone can spread it, vaccinated or not — and vaccinations are how we get back to ‘normal.’ Plus, over 300 million people have this shot now and we want to reduce our risk of serious illness and hospitalization.” But others, even those who say they have gotten the vaccine, aren’t confiSee Vaccination P. 6A
Giving back
Photo by Stefan Modrich Pictured is a sign reading “free COVID-19 vaccines here” in Spanish Friday outside the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center at 6719 W. Montgomery Road.
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INSIDE. Contributed photo Heights High School senior Bridget Martinez stands in front of a fire truck and equipment at Houston Fire Station 62 in the Heights. Martinez is organizing a fundraiser to help the firefighters buy groceries and other necessities.
Local student raising money for firefighters By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Shooting arrest A man has been accused of shooting his mom’s boyfriend
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New face Heights resident Morris Smith was recently named to the Houston Children’s Charity board.
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When Heights High School senior Bridget Martinez was assigned a community service project as part of her International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Heights High School, her thoughts immediately jumped to firefighters. “They’re our community protectors,” she said. “I just want to make sure that they feel appreciated and that the community gets an opportunity to give back to them.” Martinez is hoping to raise $400 before Sept. 11 to purchase Kroger gift cards for the firefighters of local Station 62, she said. The hope is this might help them pay for groceries and other needs, she said. “I want to tell them ‘thank you’ for all that they do, and all the hours and shifts they endure,” she said. “I really appreciate all the hard work they give to the community. I look
Contributed photo Martinez, left, said she has made previous stops to Station 62, and wants to honor their efforts in the commnunity.
forward to engaging the community and encouraging them to appreciate them.” The assignment began this past summer, according to Martinez. The Heights IB program is meant to help
students “demonstrate self-discipline and responsibility, develop a serious work ethic, approach tasks with a sense of purpose, learn from fellow students as well as teachSee Firefighters P. 3A
A Houston man is accused of shooting and killing his brother after the two began fighting over a pair of pants a third man bought at the mall the day before, according to court documents. Gregory Johnson, 18, has been charged with murder in conJohnson nection to the shooting death of Damarion McKeever, 21, on Aug. 22, according to the Houston Police Department. Johnson as of Tuesday afternoon was on the run, according to investigators. Officers at about 11:15 a.m. last Sunday responded to a shooting call at the Shenandoah Apartments at 4250 W. 34th St. to find McKeever dead from a gunshot wound, police said. McKeever’s stepfather told investigators he had been in his bedroom when he heard gunshots coming from the living room and walked to the room, where he found McKeever bleeding from his chest, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges. The man called police and performed CPR, but couldn’t revive McKeever, according to the affidavit. A second man told police he had purchased a pair of pants at a mall the day before, and that he’d been talking with McKeever about them while Johnson was allegedly there, according to the affidavit. The man told investigators that Johnson allegedly began calling McKeever stupid for hanging out with the witness while the witness bought the wrong size of pants, according to the affidavit. The man told investigators the two men then began fighting and cursSee Shooting P. 3A
Heights High track reopens to community
Craved cuisine Leader Ultimate Venues focuses on burgers and pizza this week.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6A Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink......................................... 10A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
Area man accused of fatally shooting brother
Contributed photo The resurfaced Heights High School track is now open to the community.
Heights High School business manager Tracy Hernandez knows that the school’s track is central to many community members, giving them an easy neighborhood spot to exercise. As such, this week’s milestone was a particularly noteworthy one for the community. As Heights joined the rest of the Houston Independent School District in welcoming its students
back for the 2021-2022 school year, the school also unveiled its school track that recently received a facelift almost a year in the making. Over the years, Hernandez said the track had become worn down to the point that it was extremely unsafe for student athletes and community members to use it. During the course of the project, Hernandez said there was a repair or replacement the rubber material in between the concrete and the surface of the track,
which had become exposed prior to its facelift. It was funded using allocated funds from the school’s improvement budget according to Hernandez, who handles the budget and facility management. When asked about the project cost, Hernandez declined to comment and referred questions to the district’s press office. “It was essentially just concrete that was there and needed to be fixed,” she said. “The maSee Track P. 3A
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