CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Black family once hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 changed their mind after the virus hit close to home. 

Vernon Johnson, his wife and son got their first shot in September after seeing the impact of the virus firsthand. 

“We actually knew people who were dying: family members, church members who were going to the hospital and never coming out and dying alone,” Johnson said.

Johnson said his father passed away from COVID-19 complications in March. In May, Johnson's son and his grandmother got sick after contracting the virus. 

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services dashboard, more Black or African American people in the state are rolling up their sleeves. Forty-seven percent of Black North Carolinians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is not far behind the 51% of white North Carolinians vaccinated. 

This statistic doesn’t surprise Johnson. 

“You’re seeing actual proof that is affecting the Black community,” Johnson said. 

Now, 52% of Hispanics have been vaccinated, compared with 51% of non-Hispanics. 

The director of Hispanic/Latinx policy and strategy at NCDHHS, Yazmin Garcia Rico, said the numbers are a result of several efforts, including Healthier Together, a partnership between NC Counts and NCDHHS that supports community-based organizations.

In addition, she said the Community Healthcare Worker Program and cash incentives offered have also made a difference. 

"I think it's the combination of all the initiatives because a lot of these initiatives really what they are doing is getting that information out there, in terms of outreach education [and] answering people's questions. A lot of times people have various specific questions to their situation,” Garcia Rico said.

Similarly to the Johnson family’s story, Garcia Rico said some Hispanics made the decision to get vaccinated due to their experiences. 

“The Latinx community was impacted in a negative way by COVID and many people passed away and unfortunately many people lost their jobs. There were consequences that COVID brought to many people in our community. I think vaccination outcomes and the numbers that we’re seeing are a result of what people have gone through in trying to have that protection and trying to avoid more negative things to come for communities,” Garcia Rico said. 

Johnson’s decision was also influenced by his work. He owns a film company, which means he often works with others.  

“It’s something that I’m doing for me first, and then for my family and people around me,” Johnson said. 

Garcia Rico emphasized that while she is glad to see vaccination rates for historically marginalized populations increase, she recognizes the work is not complete. She said they need to reach more people now that boosters and COVID-19 vaccines for children are available.