By Janice Lucas | Executive Director
More Community Health Connectors are needed in Bay County, FL., as we continue efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Currently, the LEAD Coalition has hired one Community Health Connector who is working tirelessly to plan and conduct vaccination events. To date, approximately 1,500 Bay Countians have been vaccinated at eight events, four giving Moderna, three giving Pfizer and one giving J&J vaccination shots. Of that number, approximately 700 shots have gone to minorities, about 25% of the total vaccines to the hard-to-reach population.
Others giving vaccines include the Bay County Health Department, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, and PanCare Inc. Still, only 26% of Bay County has been vaccinated. Although Bay County, Florida, is considered highly vulnerable to Covid-19, there are many here who refuse or are hesitant to getting vaccinated. According to the COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI), developed by Surgo Ventures, Bay County, FL is more vulnerable than 88% of U.S. counties. The CCVI assesses how well any community in the United States could respond to the health, economic and social consequences of COVID-19 without appropriate response and additional support.
The Community Health Connector can be trained and can train others how the engage in informative, objective conversations about Covid-19 and the vaccine. We have seen hesitant individuals determine to take the shot after getting their questions answered and concerned addressed.
Utilizing Trust Networks established in the Fall and other volunteers, the Community Health Coordinator has coordinated the vaccine events and has distributed Covid-19 monitoring kits. Having more trained Community Health Connectors, we can increase the dissemination of factual, objective information by trusted individuals.
The work of the Community Health Connector has been documented in the local media:
Vaccine clinic taking place in Panama City Sunday
Published: Apr. 16, 2021 at 8:50 PM CDT
https://www.wjhg.com/2021/04/17/vaccine-clinic-taking-place-in-panama-city-sunday/
Data shows a disparity amongst population for COVID-19 vaccine
Posted: Mar 12, 2021 / 10:20 AM CST / Updated: Mar 15, 2021 / 09:43 AM CDT
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/bay-county/data-shows-a-disparity-amongst-population-for-covid-19-vaccine/
Resilient American Communities holds second COVID-19 vaccination event on Sunday
Published: Mar. 7, 2021 at 8:36 PM CST
https://www.wjhg.com/2021/03/08/resilient-american-communities-held-second-covid-19-vaccination-event-on-sunday
Resilient American Communities to hold second COVID-19 vaccine event in Bay County
Posted: Mar 6, 2021 / 08:47 PM CST / Updated: Mar 6, 2021 / 10:51 PM CST
https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/resilient-american-communities-to-hold-second-covid-19-vaccine-event-in-bay-county/
Local organizations get COVID-19 kits to minorities in Bay County
Published: Jan. 22, 2021 at 9:10 PM CST
https://www.wjhg.com/2021/01/23/local-organizations-get-covid-19-kits-to-minorities-in-bay-county/
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