The state’s Black and Latinx populations each suffered 10 percent more COVID-19 cases in the first half of 2020 and saw a death rate three times that of white residents.
With language barriers, lack of access to technology and transportation concerns, marginalized communities in Massachusetts have faced difficulties securing a coveted COVID-19 vaccine. But individuals at a state and local level are working towards progress.
The City’s Bank On Boston initiative partnered with USALLIANCE Financial to provide a basic free checking account for unbanked and underbanked city residents.
CIC’s operations opened with an initial dosage capacity of 800 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations per day, with plans to increase that number to 2,500 daily appointments in a month’s time —half will be reserved for local residents.
