Connecticut continues to have one of the fastest coven 19 vaccine rollouts in the whole country and yet why disparities still exist and that’s why the department of public health is working with historically black fraternities and sororities on a series of town halls to try and close this gap channel 3
Eyewitness news reporter mike savino is live from the east hartford drive-through clinic with much more mike yes mark and aaron there’s going to be three more of these virtual town hall meetings including one this week but it’s just one of the many ways that these trusted messengers are trying to reach out
Sometimes someone just needs their hand held to tell them it’s okay more than half of eligible people in connecticut have been fully vaccinated but there’s still a huge divide in who’s getting the shot as of last wednesday only 30 percent of black and 33 percent of hispanic people
Over 16 were fully vaccinated that’s well below the statewide rate of nearly 54 percent that’s where the trusted partners program comes in the goal is not just to stick a needle in somebody’s arm and get them vaccinated the goal is to educate them the department of public health is
Working with nine historically black fraternities and sororities to build trust this helps the state partner with doctors clergy and others who have trust in their communities they haven’t just shown up yesterday right they’ve been there in the trenches governor ned lamont said in a statement this partnership is about
Stepping up to help our communities understand the vaccine and provide a direct connection to medical experts who can build trust in our health care system the partnership includes a series of virtual town halls where people can ask questions about the vaccine the first meeting was last week and a
Second one is scheduled for wednesday organizers say it’s one of the many ways to reach out to people where they are it may be four in one area six in another area ten in another area but collectively it could be a large number vaccination rates among african americans in
Connecticut have improved from just 21 on april 21st to 30 percent last week hesitancy is just one of the reasons members of trusted partners say they have also helped people get appointments or with transportation i don’t believe that there is just one answer that would fix everything
Now aside from the forum on wednesday there are two more scheduled by the middle of june for more details or to sign up to attend go to the department of public health website live from east hartford mike savino channel 3 eyewitness news
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