CHOC Brings Mobile Vaccination to its NorCal Communities
Working together to create vaccine equity and keep our communities healthy
By Terri Smyth Canillo, Vice President Community Impact
Let’s get our communities vaccinated! Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available in the United States, the nationwide effort to vaccinate is at the forefront. CHOC, as a leading nonprofit developer of affordable housing communities, has established a new resource to help our residents receive the COVID-19 vaccine at on-site vaccination clinics.
With the highly contagious delta variant currently contributing to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the health and wellness of our communities continue to remain at risk. The need for access to the COVID-19 vaccine has never been greater. It’s our goal to protect the health of our communities by providing access to vaccines right where our residents live—making it convenient amid their busy work and school schedules.
As the Vice President of Community Impact, I have helped organize and oversee the operation of the mobile vaccine clinics at our CHOC communities. Together with the Sacramento County National Guard, Sacramento County Public Health, Yolo County Health and Human Services, and Sierra Health Foundation, all in association with US Housing & Urban Development (HUD), CHOC has successfully established mobile vaccination units at our communities located in Sacramento and Yolo counties.
Bringing access to the COVID-19 vaccine to our communities
Facilitating equal access to the vaccine within our communities has become a pivotal program in 2021, which will likely continue through the next year.
Vaccine equity is an ongoing, critical issue across the country. CHOC’s unwavering commitment to vaccine equity aligns with the principles our organization is founded on. Many of our residents are essential workers, older adults, disabled, and people of color, which the CDC has identified as individuals at the highest risk for infection.
Many of our residents work full-time and are unable to take time off to get the vaccine. Some of our residents may not have access to reliable transportation. They are mothers and fathers who may need to stay at home to care for children or aging parents at all times.
Understanding the unique challenges our communities face, CHOC has made it a priority to bring mobile vaccination units on-site, so that barriers to vaccination are significantly reduced.
Walk-ups are welcome — no appointment needed.
Reducing vaccine hesitancy among our residents
One of our primary goals with our mobile vaccination program has been to help our residents learn more about the vaccine. Mistrust and fear exist among the communities we serve due to a long history of mistreatment in the healthcare system.
For over a year of the pandemic, the families living in our CHOC communities have been forced into survival mode. Several have worked three jobs to make ends meet, while others have struggled to pay rent due to pandemic-related layoffs. Many of our residents are essential workers, who are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19.
Because children under 12 years of age are not yet eligible for vaccines, the risk increases further. Kids are in school this fall, many for the first time since the pandemic began.
To help overcome these hurdles and vaccine hesitancy as a whole, we’ve started to offer a three-appointment approach at our mobile vaccination units, as recommended by our partner, Sacramento County Public Health.
This process provides residents an initial appointment, where they can watch vaccinations as they happen and ask a vaccine ambassador any questions they have. The three-appointment approach gives residents the opportunity to become more comfortable with the process.
Making progress in Yolo County and Sacramento County
At first, the mobile vaccination clinics were provided Monday through Friday during typical working hours. But because many of the eligible adults were at work during those times, CHOC requested a shift in operation hours so that residents could stop by after getting home from work and once their children were home from school.
After the change was made, we started seeing more residents heading over to get vaccinated at our clinics. It’s good news that we’re very proud to share!
So far, we’ve distributed vaccines in Yolo and Sacramento County at our Homestead, Washington Square, Acacia Meadows, Hotel Woodland, Winters Village, and Auberry Park communities, with more to come soon.
As a nurse at one of our clinics said, “One poke is better than none!” It’s true. CHOC is committed to bringing access to the vaccine to our residents, so that despite circumstances, our most vulnerable communities can thrive.
Together, we take one step closer to a vaccinated California.
For more, check out our CEO Manuel Silva’s latest interview with ForbesBook Podcast.