African Americans

Organizers say the summit is the first step in a long road to recovering from the pandemic's effects on mental wellness. It follows a recent town hall focused on mental health and vaccine hesitancy.

Ryan May, 24, grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia, with dreams of becoming a doctor. In the past year, both of his brothers died unexpectedly.

In an effort to ease the disparities in vaccination rates of communities of color, county officials and a local organization are teaming up to offer vaccine sites in St. Petersburg.

A recent movie produced by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine group tries to capitalize on the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial justice movement and renewed interest in the history of medical racism.

Black Americans' vaccination rates still trail other groups, while Hispanics show improvement. In Florida, 26% of white people have received a COVID-19 shot, compared with 13% of Blacks.

The state Department of Health said only 7% of the vaccinated people have been identified as Black, but 66% as white, 15% as "unknown" and 11% as "other."

It's not a matter of vaccine hesitancy, say advocates. Instead, poorly located clinics, lack of flexible appointments and other barriers to access are hampering Philadelphia's hardest-hit communities.

The CDC has declared that racism is a serious threat to public health. It’s a threat shows up in doctors’ offices and hospitals. For Black women seeking an OB-GYN, that experience can be especially difficult.

Many of these students are first-generation doctors with no one to turn to for advice. Finding mentors in academia is one way to help them overcome barriers and increase their odds at success.

The goal is to reach seniors who struggle to access public sites or are apprehensive about going to them. It's helping underserved communities get vaccinated.