Patrick unveils $1M to fight H1N1 among minorities

BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick has announced that his administration will make available $1 million in federal funds aimed at increasing H1N1 vaccination rates in communities of color.

The administration said Friday that the funds will be offered to community groups who serve Latino, African-American and Asian-American communities across the state.

Recent finds released by the state Department of Public Health found that that state's communities of color were getting swine flu more often than whites. The findings also showed that the state's minorities had higher hospitalization and death rates.

Details on which groups have been awarded funds will be released in the coming weeks.