San Diego County Vice Chair Nora Vargas was a recipient of the Cross-Border Collaboration Award at the International Tribute Awards Ceremony in San Diego, honored by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, along with Council General in San Diego Carlos Gonzales Guitierrez among other Mexican leaders.
Vice Chair Vargas was recognized for her leadership in the binational region’s vaccination efforts in bringing health equity. This annual event provides an opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact bridging U.S. and Mexican economies.
“As a proud fronteriza and long-time healthcare advocate, I am honored to receive this award, because as I’ve always believed and said, healthcare has no borders.” said Nora Vargas, Vice Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “I want to thank Consul General Carlos González Gutierrez and Tijuana corporate leaders who were great partners so that our cross-border vaccination pilot program was a success. This type of collaboration demonstrates the strong ties that exist between Mexico and the United States, especially here in our Cali-Baja region.”
In the last year, she helped lead multiple binational vaccination programs that helped raise immunization rates and lift non-essential travel restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico Border, which resulted in the vaccination of 26,000 maquiladora workers, 10,000 truck drivers, 450 youth and 40 deported veterans.
She currently as Co-chair of the COVID-19 subcommittee, helped launch multiple programs in her district that aim to achieve some of the highest vaccination rates in the County, launched initiatives like no appointment vaccination sites and expanded the role of the 2-1-1- information line.
