SVMHS Helps Vaccinate Indigenous Population

As an increasing rate in COVID-19 cases causes concern, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS) is using its Mobile Heath Clinic to deliver critical second vaccine doses to the rural community of Greenfield. The potentially life-saving vaccine is being delivered to more than 100 people already partially immunized in a project promoting health equity. People who received the free vaccine last month will become fully immunized on Saturday.

In June, SVMHS partnered with Centro Binacional para el Desarollo Indigena Oaxaqueno (CBDIO) to deliver free COVID-19 vaccine to underserved populations. The Center identified Greenfield as a vulnerable community needing easy access to the vaccine and the convenience of the SVMHS Mobile Health Clinic.

"We knew this would be an important collaboration," said Pete Delgado, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System President/CEO. "We had no idea however just how critical our mission would become with the rapidly spreading Delta variant. Our partnerships with grass roots organizations serving indigenous populations are more important than ever before." 

Trained staff from the SVMHS Mobile Health Clinic will administer a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine to individuals 12 and older who received a first dose during a special Mobile Health Clinic effort on June 26. CBDIO pre-registered more than 100 unvaccinated people in the first outreach campaign and both teams will once again accommodate as many walk-ins as possible. 

"There can be many barriers to vaccine access," said Delgado. "Our mobile clinic helps eliminate some of the challenges of location, transportation and timing. We go to where underserved families live and offer the vaccine on a Saturday with hours that provide the most flexibility for families."

Delgado added that CBDIO is an engaged partner, providing critical knowledge and input to help close the health equity gap. The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will take place Saturday, July 17 from 3pm-8pm at a centralized location in Greenfield, 140 El Camino Real. 

To date, SVMHS has administered more than 51,000  COVID-19 vaccine doses to the community.