The Statewide Vaccination Community Engagement and Education Task Force conducted simultaneous news conferences all over the state of Florida on Wednesday.
Religious and community leaders announced 80+ proposed vaccination sites to be located in targeted marginalized communities across Florida.
"We as leaders are here to address the huge disparities in minority communities in reference to the number of Floridians who have been vaccinated," said R. L. Gundy, the NE Region Director of the Education and Engagement Taskforce at the Jacksonville news conference.
The state task force leader is Dr. RB Holmes Pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.
"Because of the vaccine sites that faith-based leaders have designated, we can reach our goal of having 60-70 percent of minorities vaccinated," said Holmes.
The group said it is not political, rather they are focusing on saving lives.
They say Publix grocery stores, which are providing the vaccine, are not located in enough of the minority communities.
Proposed vaccination sites on the First Coast include Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Solid Rock Baptist Church, Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church, Dayspring Baptist Church, and First Timothy Baptist Church, all in Jacksonville, as well as First Baptist of Fernandina in Fernandina Beach, Mount Tabor First Baptist Church in Palatka, Greater Bethel AME in Gainesville, T.L. Holt Association Building in Hastings, and Allen Chapel A.M.E. in Daytona Beach.