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As Vaccinations Start To Lag, Vaccine Education and Incentives Ramp Up

Florida Department of Health Pinellas

We get an update on Florida's vaccination efforts from WUSF and Health News Florida reporter Stephanie Colombini. You'll also hear from an expert who's working on vaccine education amid the decreasing number of people getting their shots.

More than 7 million Floridians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s about 33% of the state’s population.

The Biden administration has set a goal that 70% of adults receive at least one dose by the Fourth of July.

For some folks, getting a shot is as easy as walking into the nearest Publix or CVS. But vaccination rates are lower in communities of color, where hesitancy and misinformation persist.

On this week's episode, we check in on the vaccine rollout in Florida and look at how doctors are working to get more shots into arms.

First, host Bradley George talks with WUSF and Health News Florida reporter Stephanie Colombini.

Now that vaccinations are slowing down, she says the push to educate unvaccinated Floridians — especially younger people — is growing.

SPECIAL REPORT: Unequal Shots

That's exactly what Dr. Kevin Sneed is focusing on now.

He's dean of the University of South Florida’s College of Pharmacy and executive director of WE-CARE, a community healthcare initiative. Top of mind for him is making sure people get accurate information about the vaccines.

Beyond that, Sneed says, he and his team allow people to decide whether to get vaccinated.

You can listen to George's full conversations with Colombini and Sneed above by clicking on the “Listen” button. Or you can listen on the WUSF app under “Programs & Podcasts.”

Click here to find more on the vaccine rollout in Florida, including a county-by-county guide on where to get a shot.

Hi there! I’m Dinorah Prevost and I’m the producer of Florida Matters, WUSF's weekly public affairs show. That basically means that I plan, record and edit the interviews we feature on the show.
Bradley George was a Morning Edition host and reporter at WUSF until March 2022.