MOUNT DORA, Fla. - Dozens of seniors living in the Northeast community of Mount Dora were vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine Sunday.
What You Need To Know
- Vaccine access was issue for many Mount Dora residents
- Pastor, city leaders worked to bridge that gap
- SEE ALSO: Justice For All - 2 Sides of Mount Dora
- More Coronavirus headlines
In a recent Justice for All report, Spectrum News 13's Emily Braun explained that this community has been historically underserved and under-represented.
For the Northeast community in Mount Dora, the concern was not only getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but getting to the vaccine.
“A lot of them don’t have the transportation," said Mount Dora pastor Bobby Rowe. "A lot of them don’t have the means of getting to those different locations.”
That's why Rowe partnered with city leaders to bridge that gap, bringing the vaccine closer to home.
“Because we brought the vaccine to the area, we met the people where they are, we kind of gave them the sense of….hope," said Rowe.
"I’m excited about it," said Mary Burley, who was one of the 70 people who got her vaccine at the POD at the Saving Faith Baptist Church Sunday. "My husband was very anxious to get his. He’ll be 95 in April.”
Burley says after the fact, she feels like she got more than just a shot - she got a renewed sense of community.
"My mayor was there. My city manager was there. My chief of police was there. It was just a city gathering," said Burley. "It was like having a homecoming."
“They’re concerned about the people in the whole city of Mount Dora and they have a special place in their heart for the Northeast community," said Rowe.
Last month, Gov. Ron DeSantis directed representatives from state Health Departments to work with community churches to distribute the vaccine to underserved areas.
