SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – Another vaccine clinic is coming to the Suncoast, and this one is targeted for children, specifically in minority neighborhoods.
Since the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, the effort to provide access for children is underway in Sarasota County.
“That population, I think is one of the greatest populations that really need to be vaccinated that can help us put the breaks on this virus,” Sarasota NAACP’s President Trevor Harvey said.
Harvey is the organizer of the COVID-19 Regional Coalition, where partners work together to get “Shots In Arms” for those in underserved communities.
“Birthed out of the disparity gap that we saw within the minority communities,” Harvey said.
This is why, the COVID-19 Regional Coalition is hosting its first youth vaccine event set for Saturday, December 11th from 11 AM to 1 PM at Booker Elementary.
“We know that our young people come in contact with so many different things in school,” Harvey said. “We never know what our young people are taking back into the homes.”
CenterPlace Health and SMH OB/GYN Dr. Washington Hill says it’s important to get the youth vaccinated as quickly as possible.
“One, for their protection, and then they’re helping those in the household to not get the infection,” Dr. Hill said.
He adds it’s especially important with the health disparities that exist in minority populations.
“The high-risk groups that get COVID, and not only get COVID, but die from COVID are black and brown folks,” Dr. Hill said. “So that’s why we’re focusing on them.”
Not only is the virus worse for this population, but they’re also not getting vaccinated.
“When we look at those who are not getting vaccinated, whose numbers are low, they’re again, the black and brown people,” Dr. Hill said.
Dr. Hill says it has to do with the social determinants of health like income, education, and social environments.
“These were the folks who had to go to work, they did not have the luxury of staying home with their computer [at the start of the pandemic],” Dr. Hill said.
The clinic will provide vaccines for children 5 years and older, as well as boosters for parents.
Parents, all you need to bring is your ID and your child. You don’t need insurance to get vaccinated at this event.
