Jacksonville, Fla. — Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown got his second dose at the Edward Waters College vaccination site and is encouraging others to do the same at their closest vaccine site.
Brown serves as the co-chair of the state-wide COVID-19 Vaccine Community Outreach Taskforce. Their goal is to have 80% of the African American community vaccinated.
Action News Jax broke down vaccine numbers provided by the Department of Health compared with the latest census data.
“I think it’s so important that they see trusted faces. Trusted voices. I think that’s important,” Brown said while getting his second dose. “It’s all about saving lives. Making sure that we get back to normal again so that you can go see your grandmother, your father, your uncle.”
As of Friday, 32% of Duval’s population is vaccinated. 30% are white while 17% are black. That number does not include more than 41,000 who did not list their race.
Brown admitted that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause could cause another hesitancy hurdle. The taskforce formed in January to get vaccines in communities of color. Brown said transportation is the biggest problem. JTA has partnered with Agape Health to bring vaccines into minority communities. The group is also working with fait-based organizations to reach populations who might be hesitant. Brown said they will start working with youth organizations to overcome hesitancy in younger age groups.