Gulf Coast communities were trailing well behind the rest of the country in the race to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in spring 2021, according to federal health data.
CDC figures through mid-May showed that nationwide, 35.4 percent of the total population had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Along the Gulf Coast, however, most local counties remained below that mark — with Northwest Florida counties leading the tri-state region ahead of Lower Alabama and coastal Mississippi.
Health officials continued urging residents to take advantage of widely available vaccine appointments as the region worked to close the gap with national rates. County health departments across the area also maintained COVID-19 hotlines to answer questions and help residents schedule shots.