Charlotte non-profit building trust, overcoming language barriers to vaccinate Hispanic community
Charlotte non-profit building trust, overcoming language barriers to vaccinate Hispanic community By Courtney Cole | March 9, 2021 at 6:26 PM EST - Updated March 10 at 6:38 PM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The race to get all North Carolinians vaccinated continues, especially in minority communities.
The latest data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting that 2.4% of Hispanic people are fully vaccinated compared to 97.3% of Non-Hispanic people.
NCDHHS is also reporting that 2.4% of the state’s Hispanic population is fully vaccinated, compared to 10.4% of Non-Hispanic people. For context, 9.8% of the state is Hispanic or Latino, according to 2019 Census data.
Meck County partners with local pharmacies to ensure fair vaccine distribution Joe Bruno
Replay Video UP NEXT
In the race to vaccinate, it is important everyone has access to the COVID-19 vaccine but that can be challenging in some areas.
One strategy the county is using to make sure the vaccine is being distributed fairly is partnering with local pharmacies.
Mecklenburg County officials are transferring 6,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna shots to local providers to help with equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution. As part of the effort, seven pharmacies are getting doses from the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
The seven pharmacies are Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center in east Charlotte, Rx Clinic Pharmacy in southeast Charlotte, Pineville Pharmacy and four pharmacies in Harris Teeter grocery stores.
Atrium Health shared its playbook on mass vaccination sites with the Biden Administration and the governors of every state. A big part of it is making distribution equitable.
“Every single time we do an event that is one of the first things we think about it and it really comes down to targeting those populations and making it easy for them to come in,” said Dr. Scott Rissmiller with Atrium Health.
This weekend, Atrium Health will give 20,000 second-dose vaccines at Bank of America Stadium.
But some people in groups 1 and 2 who have not been vaccinated now worry about getting left behind.
WCCB Charlotte s CW
February 25, 2021
CHARLOTTE, NC. Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris is urging the community to stay cautious. She says despite Governor Roy Cooper loosening COVID restrictions across the state, the level of virus in Mecklenburg County is still high.
“But my other concern is that people will take these openings as the opportunity to just get out and do whatever they want to, and hopefully, that’s not going to happen,” says Harris.
Starting Friday night, bars are allowed to have people inside for the first time in 11 months at 30% capacity. Restaurants at 50% capacity. The last call will be a little later. You will be able to drink on-site until 11 pm instead of 9 pm.
Pools
Some exceptions apply to allow more or less attendance at particular businesses.
Club 519 in Greenville, NC, recently partnered up with Pacific Legal Foundation a pro bona law firm to help file lawsuit against Governor Roy Cooper. In the lawsuit, they cite “economic favoritism” regarding how some bars were able to open sooner than others. Specifically, bars inside restaurants, breweries, and wineries were able to reopen at limited capacity back in June while private bars had to remain closed.
“There’s no health or public safety data that supports this distinction,” attorney Jessica Thompson said. “We are suing for equal treatment. This case is really about fairness.”