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Oswaldo Simon, left, said he appreciated the help state canvassers provided signing him up for a COVID-19 vaccine appointment in his neighborhood.
About one-fourth of Florida s Hispanic population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to nearly 40% of whites. Government and community outreach efforts are looking to close those gaps by making it easier for Latinx residents to access shots.
Shoppers entering a Latin supermarket in the Tampa suburb of Town N Country on a recent morning were greeted by folks in neon green shirts asking in English or, more commonly, Spanish, “Have you gotten the COVID-19 vaccine?”
Canvassers Jack Alvarez and Evelyn Escalante work for the state and used tablets to help anyone who answered no register for shots if they were willing. They directed people to a mobile vaccination site the state was hosting in a park down the block that day, but could also sign people up with local pharmacies.