WORCESTER, Mass. - Despite the easing of restrictions last month in Massachusetts, Worcester's Equity Vaccination Program continues.

Worcester's Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Dr. Matilde Castiel, says the tactics used by the City to get targeted communities vaccinated has changed. 

All events are now walk-ups with no appointments required. Dr. Castiel says her department is still focused on getting to the two communities that were hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In Worcester, the African-American community has a little more than 30% of its population fully vaccinated and the Latino and Hispanic community sits at just under 30%. And to avoid a future surge, Castiel says they will continue to get into the communities most at-risk and get the message out about the importance of the COVID vaccine.

"Still communities of color are the least vaccinated and you know that during COVID they were the most affected by COVID,” Dr. Castiel said. “Before when we had clinics, we would have 700 people clinics, and it wasn't about convincing people it was about do I have enough vaccinators to get people so that they're not standing in line for a long time. Now it's really you're spending an hour with somebody trying to convince them about the vaccine and so those are the frustrating things that go on now."

Castiel adds that the Commonwealth has been assisting in the Vaccine Equity program in Worcester as well. On July 1 and 2, the state will bring a vaccination bus to the city to administer the vaccine in the targeted communities.