The pace of coronavirus vaccinations in Tallahassee appears to be slowing. The emphasis now is shifting from giving out the shots, to convincing the reluctant that they need to get the vaccine.
Saturday morning's drive-thru COVID vaccination event at the Truth Gatherers Dream Center Church on High Road wasn't exactly slammed. The threatening weather was certainly a reason, but local Coronavirus Task Force Member Elaine Bryant suspected other factors at work as well.
"We're trying to dispel these myths, because they're everywhere! The shot will do this, that and the other. In reality, what the shot does is to keep you safe from this virus."
So along with the pop-up vaccination clinics, Bryant said the task force is helping community organizations and churches to spread the truth about the vaccines.
"Especially we're targeting African-Americans, people of color, and people in rural areas to actually come and get a shot."
Estimates are as much as a third of the population could remain unvaccinated. Health officials worry that will make widespread immunity to the virus more elusive and may promote the creation of more deadly variants.
