Unequal Shots

Steve Newborn talks with Stephanie Colombini, who wrote the story, as well as two community advocates.

Steve Newborn talks with Stephanie Colombini, who wrote the story, as well as two community advocates.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to stress the mental health of many people. But it's been especially hard for some Black Americans, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus and already faced barriers to care.

A recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed the pandemic has widened existing disparities in health and wellbeing as well as in academic performance between children of color and white children.

Despite a wide variety of challenges from job loss to distrust of the establishment, the success the Hispanic community has seen could help other communities tackle vaccine hesitancy.

Though vaccination rates among Black Floridians still lag behind whites and Hispanics, recent data shows they are improving.

The coronavirus pandemic and vaccine rollout have magnified inequities in Florida’s health care system, advocates say.

Organizers say the summit is the first step in a long road to recovering from the pandemic's effects on mental wellness. It follows a recent town hall focused on mental health and vaccine hesitancy.

Black Americans' vaccination rates still trail other groups, while Hispanics show improvement. In Florida, 26% of white people have received a COVID-19 shot, compared with 13% of Blacks.

A survey shows that unvaccinated Hispanics are almost twice as likely as unvaccinated Blacks or whites to want a COVID shot. Many still face a variety of access problems, ranging from fear to time squeeze.

Language barriers and other factors can make it harder for Latinx residents to get vaccinated in Florida. Community groups and government agencies are trying to change that.

The partnership helps residents struggling to access COVID-19 vaccines in the community. This kind of local effort could be key as demand for shots slows.