‘We can’t get comfortable’: Community leaders, nonprofit urge COVID-19 shots amid stagnant vax rates

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — This year will mark the second Christmas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This time around, many people don’t have plans to stay put. Instead, they’re planning to see family and friends in person, adding even more urgency from national and community leaders and health experts to get more people vaccinated.

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At the time of this story is being published, 57.6% of people are fully vaccinated in Duval County while 66% of people have at least one dose, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Durkeeville, at J.P. Smalls Park, local leaders were joined by a nonprofit to make another plea for people to get vaccinated, so they don’t end up in the hospital or worse.

“I am a survivor. And I came out here this morning because, not only me — Councilman President (Sam) Newby and (Reggie) Gaffney— we’ve all either experienced it or we’ve had members in our family. And so, as a community, we have to make sure that we continue to stay in the residents’ ears about COVID. Because this is serious!,” exclaimed Jacksonville City Councilmember Ju’Coby Pittman of District 8.

After fighting COVID-19 in the hospital for weeks this summer, Pittman said she feels it’s her duty to make sure others don’t have to face the same battle she did.

“It was not promising. And so, I am a champion of education and getting the word out. And you know what? I’m glad it’s in my district, because most of the people that have not taken the shot (are) is in my district,” Pittman explained to Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole.

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“I’m vaccinated, I have all my shots and I have my booster shot to. So that means a lot to me!” Anthony Jones, a neighbor attending the event, enthusiastically told Cole.

“Get vaccinated!,” exclaimed Curtis Kirkman, a neighbor who told Cole he had COVID and got all of his shots, and now wants other people to do the same.

Hams were handed out for the holiday as well, but Pittman says she hopes that wasn’t the only thing neighbors in need walked away with.

“It’s not just about the hams, it’s about the community coming together and being educated on a regular basis. Because you know what, out of sight out of mind!. So we have to make sure that we’re continuously being in your ear,” Pittman told Action News Jax.

Pittman’s district, which falls in Health Zone 1, is also an area with a great disparity in access to health care. This makes it even more important for neighbors in this area to get the shot.

“We’re in an area where people (don’t) necessarily seek the answers, you kind of have to go to them. They are faced with so many other things they’re concerned about, and health becomes something secondary,” said Mincy Pollock of the Florida Care Assurance Group.

A new nonprofit group, Black Men Engaged, also joined local leaders to inform the community about the COVID-19 vaccine and how they can protect themselves against the virus.

“Who is missing from the seat at the table this year around the holidays? The grandmother, the grandfather, mother, brother, sister, family, or friend that should have been there because they should’ve gotten a shot, should’ve gotten tested,” Khalil Thompson said.

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Thompson is the Executive Director of Black Men Engaged.

“Now, more than ever, is the time for us to be in the community for Black Men Engaged. We are here to make sure that every one of our community members knows they’re valued, that their lives matter. So, getting the shot, getting your booster, getting yourself tested for COVID so you can be with your family, is more important than ever,” Thompson explained.

The latest data from the Florida Department of Health show the COVID-19 weekly case count increasing, but the number of people getting vaccinated staying relatively stagnant.

Although many are exhausted of the changes and restrictions COVID-19 has put on our everyday lives, Chad Neilsen, the Director Of Accreditation and Infection Prevention at UF Health, said he believes we could be close to a vaccination plateau.

“Omicron is very quickly taking over as the most dominant variant, and it’s spreading very rapidly. And so if they want to continue to have holidays and want to try to get over this next impending wave, really vaccination is going to be the only way to do it.”

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