TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Led by Tallahassee pastor R.B. Holmes, the Statewide COVID-19 task force has created a 10-step plan to increase the number of minorities vaccinated across the state.
According to data from the Florida Department of Health shared in the meeting, more than 193,000 white Floridians have been vaccinated, compared to just more than 18,000 people of color.
To close that gap, some of the top points in their plan include:
- Designating a minimum of 40 vaccination sites or venues across the state by Jan. 31.
- Getting up to 70 percent of communities of color vaccinated by the end of the year.
- Developing neighborhood health clinics in 25 designated cities in disadvantaged communities - including one in Tallahassee.
"We are partnering, the Bethel Church in Tallahassee with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, to bring an urgent care clinic in the heart of the black community," said Holmes.
In addition to adding those sites, Holmes and his team plan to strongly recommend the health departments partner with the four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Florida to create trusted vaccination sites for minorities and also to focus educational outreach in under-served and disadvantaged communities.
By the end of January, the task force will also send a letter to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris detailing support of the administration's plan to vaccinate 100 million people in the first 100 days.
