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CBS17: Truth tracker: NCDHHS isn’t overstating effect of census map on vaccine rates in trouble spots

Vaccination rates in 89 underserved communities increased by 50 percent during the past month, and the state Department of Health and Human Services says that’s because of its new mapping tool that helps the agency pinpoint trouble spots. The map points out census tracts across the state with high rates of social vulnerability and low vaccine uptake rates. DHHS focused what it called targeted outreach efforts on 90 such tracts that met those two criteria — as well as having no COVID-19 vaccine providers — as of April 24. Of those, the vaccination rates in 89 — or, all but one — have risen by 50 percent, DHHS said. “This map really helped us and our partners focus where they were really using their efforts, creating those partnerships for vaccination,” said Dr. Charlene Wong, the agency’s chief health policy officer for COVID-19. Wong says DHHS is “hearing stories from across the state, particularly with our vaccine providers, who are saying this map is really changing the way that we are doing our COVID-19 vaccination efforts.” Read more at CBS17.