Listen in: On Florida Matters, Steve Newborn talks with reporter Stephanie Colombini, who wrote the story, as well as two community advocates.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to stress the mental health of many people. But it's been especially hard for some Black Americans, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus and already faced barriers to care.

Seniors who showed up Monday say the site offered a convenient opportunity to get COVID boosters. Only a limited group of people qualify, but others can get standard vaccinations and testing.

A recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed the pandemic has widened existing disparities in health and well-being as well as in academic performance between children of color and white children.

Kerry Sheridan and Stephanie Colombini spent several months listening to groups invested in the health of communities of color. In this episode of Florida Matters, they talk about the project.

Despite a wide variety of challenges from job loss to distrust of the establishment, the success the Hispanic community has seen could help other communities tackle vaccine hesitancy.

Though vaccination rates among Black Floridians still lag behind whites and Hispanics, recent data shows they are improving.

The coronavirus pandemic and vaccine rollout have magnified inequities in Florida’s health care system, advocates say.

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.

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.