By Tim Mastro

DOVER — The Kent County Coalition is nearing 9,000 vaccinations, with 10 more COVID-19 clinics scheduled this month.

The coalition, formed with the goal of increasing the equity of the vaccine, has helped administer 8,734 doses of the vaccine. That total does not include vaccinations done at Smyrna High School and Brecknock Park, both on Wednesday.

The Rev. Rita Paige, one of the coalition’s leaders, attended a youth summit this past weekend to educate the recently eligible age group of those 12 to 17 years old.

“I encouraged the people who were there to come and get the vaccine and tried to put to rest some of the myths about the vaccine,” the Rev. Paige said.

Earlier this month, the coalition hosted a “Real Talk” over Zoom geared toward the Latino community to address any concerns they might have with the vaccine. More than 200 individuals joined the discussion.

“It was a great experience but we need to give them more information,” said Wanda Barrett of United Way Delaware. “I think we are en route to be successful in ensuring people will get vaccinated.”

The coalition has another clinic today, utilizing the Kent County Public Library bookmobile at the Milford Boys and Girls Club from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Two more clinics are scheduled with the bookmobile this month — Thursday, June 24, at Concerts on The Green in Dover (6:30 to 9 p.m.) and Friday, June 25, at the Dover Boys and Club and Kent County Recreation Center (7 to 9 p.m.).

Delaware State University has begun hosting a vaccination site every Tuesday at a Curative Inc. trailer. The trailer has given out a combined 78 doses after the first two Tuesdays of the clinic, according to statistics provided by the coalition.

The coalition will also hold vaccine clinics at Liberty Court Apartments and Brookdale Assisted Living in Dover on Tuesday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), at Frederica Fire Hall on Saturday, June 26 (noon to 2 p.m.), at Focus Community Day at 117 E. Glenwood Ave. in Smyrna on Saturday, June 26 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and at Mifflin Meadows development on Wednesday, June 30 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

According to the Delaware Division of Public Health’s vaccine tracker, 35% of Delaware’s Black population and 39.7% of Hispanics have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is compared to 48.8% of Delaware’s White population.

In terms of persons who have received the vaccine, 65.1% are White while 15% are Black and 7.1% are Hispanic.

There have been 966,985 total doses of vaccine administered in Delaware. The CDC is reporting 68.4% adult Delawareans have received at least one dose of vaccine. This includes Delawareans vaccinated out of state plus vaccinations done at Dover Air Force Base and Veterans Affairs, who do not report their data to the DPH.

The DPH reported 29 new cases of COVID-19 in its daily update Wednesday. The overall total decreased by three however, to 109,418, after the DPH found a discrepancy in the case data reported on Tuesday

No new COVID-19-related deaths were announced as that number remained at 1,679. Hospitalizations increased by six to 40 with six cases considered critical.