Tippecanoe County health officials say they are trying to increase vaccine outreach efforts among the Black and Hispanic communities in the county.
The county health department vaccinated the director of the county’s Minority Health Coalition on Wednesday in an effort to boost vaccine visibility.
According to the state website, roughly 2% of vaccines administered in Tippecanoe County have gone to Black residents and 3% to Hispanic residents.
Health Department Administrator Khala Hochstedler said both populations have higher poverty rates - which presents barriers in accessing a vaccine.
“If I had a normal vaccine and there was a bunch of it at this point we’d be using our mobile clinic and going to them but right now we don’t have the vaccine and go to them,” she said. “Right now we’re trying to work with those populations. The churches and organizations to try to have them help.”
Thometra Foster, who works on the board of health, and her husband, a local pastor, both received their first dose of the vaccine.
Foster said she looks forward to seeing her grandson once she’s fully vaccinated.
