Florida Technical College, AdventHealth, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Host Event to Increase Vaccination of Hispanics

The vaccination event will be located at the Florida Technical College Kissimmee campus in Osceola County, bringing convenient, easy access to an at-risk population. 

 

KISSIMMEE, FL, May 18, 2021 — Florida Technical College (FTC), AdventHealth, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Univision are teaming up to mitigate the racial disparities in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The organizations are opening a free vaccination clinic Friday, May 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Florida Technical College Kissimmee, located at 3831 West Vine St, Kissimmee. Spanish speaking staff will be on-site to help facilitate the administration of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to those 12 years or older who are eligible to receive the vaccine. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the vaccination.

“Part of our mission at FTC is making it a priority to keep our students, staff and communities safe,” stated Dr. James Michael Burkett, President at FTC. “By hosting this event in partnership with AdventHealth, we hope to help address vaccine hesitancy by instilling confidence in our community with the information they need to make an informed decision. To further ease that process and improve access to the vaccine, we chose to host the event in the heart of Osceola County, where Hispanics make up more than half of the county’s population,” added Dr. Burkett.

More than two million Floridians have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and more than 90,000 of them have been hospitalized. More than 45,000 of those cases are in Osceola County.

29% of U.S. COVID-19 cases have been comprised of Latinos, according to recent CDC data. The organization also found that 18.6% of U.S. COVID-19 deaths and higher hospitalization rates are also among Latinos.

“We’re at a crossroads in our community and country, and I encourage everyone to get the vaccine,” said Dr.  Timothy Hendrix, medical director at AdventHealth Centra Care. “Vaccines are the best way to protect ourselves and our neighbors. These vaccines are safe, extremely effective and the fastest way for life to return to normal.”

For the most up-to-date information about the vaccine, those interested can view this FAQ from the CDC.

“We are grateful to FTC, Advent Health and Univision Orlando for joining forces to give more access to the Hispanic community” stated Gaby Ortigoni, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando. “Getting vaccinated is an important step toward normalcy and will allow more people to safely return to work.”

To register for the vaccination event, visit www.ftccollege.edu/adventhealth

 

Please note:

• Proof of eligibility is required upon registration.
• Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses, and those who receive their first vaccine at FTC must schedule their second vaccine appointment for June 11, also at FTC.
• As part of the vaccine process, those receiving the vaccine will be required to stay on-site for at least 15 minutes to ensure there are no adverse reactions. Most reported side effects are mild and include arm soreness, fatigue and headache. AdventHealth will have medical professionals on hand to assist with any reactions.