CT Partners With Non-Profit For Vaccine Outreach To Minorities

CONNECTICUT — The state will be partnering with a Hartford non-profit organization in an effort to disseminate coronavirus vaccine information to disenfranchised communities.

Health Equity Solutions advocates and promotes policies, programs, and practices that result in equitable health care access, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, according to a news release from Gov. Ned Lamont's Office

The non-profit has developed a plan to reach over 10,000 people of color living in Connecticut over a three-month span to share facts and dispel myths about the COVID-19 vaccine. The outreach will focus on faith-based and education-based networks, "and in particular will address issues concerning distrust of the medical system within the African-American community."

"We want to ensure that communities at highest risk have equitable access to the vaccines that will protect them and allow everyone to return to a sense of normalcy," Acting Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. "The team at Health Equity Solutions will strengthen and enhance our outreach efforts in the Black and Latino communities."

To date, webinars produced by Health Equity Solutions have reached over 3,000 people. More than 20 events are on the calendar, and more are in the process of being added.

"It was incredibly important to me that Health Equity Solutions not only identify the challenges to health equity but that we become a part of the solution," Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette, executive director of Health Equity Solutions, said. "We wish there was not a pandemic at all, but we are ready, willing, and able to make sure that people have accurate information to make a timely decision that is best for themselves and their family."

Those interested in hosting an outreach event for faith or education-based organizations can email info@hesct.org for more information.