WORCESTER, Mass. - City health leaders are calling on people to get their COVID-19 vaccine, as the Delta variant becomes one of the most common and contagious strains of the virus. 

What You Need To Know

  • About 90,000 people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Worcester
  • Only about 30 percent of the Black and Latino Community are vaccinated 
  • Officals are concerned about more contagious Delta variant 

Close to 90,000 people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Worcester, but city leaders say 40% of the population is still unvaccinated.

“That's certainly sufficient numbers to really challenge our health systems and create a serious public health issue," City Manager Edward Augustus said. 

Health leaders say the Delta variant is more likely to spread than other strains of the virus, and is becoming more prominent Worcester. 

“I think if we don't crank up the vaccination, then we're going to find ourselves going backwards on some of the mask mandates,"  Dr. Michael Hirsh, Worcester's Medical Director said. "Which nobody is very enthusiastic about."

Mobile clinics like the one in Main South are trying to reach underrepresented communities. Worcester's Health and Human Services Commissioner, Dr. Mattie Castiel, says only about 30 percent of the Black and Latino community in Worcester is vaccinated. 

“I know the city opened, and it is great. Yes, for those who are vaccinated, it is great," Dr. Castiel said.  "But those who are not vaccinated, I worry about them."

The city is keeping up its efforts to address vaccination hesitancy by having another clinic at Gala Foods on July 19, where people who receive the vaccine can get a $50 gift card.  Other vaccine incentives are popping up across the state too, including a chance at winning $1 million. Registration opened for the state's VaxMillions on Thursday.

“If it can get one more person to get vaccinated because they are doing this, I think it’s beneficial," Dr. Richard Ellison, UMass Memorial Health Systems, said.

And doctors say more people getting vaccinated means there’s less of a chance a new strain of the virus will form.