MADISON, Wis. — The Goodman Community Center and African American Health Network are collaborating to host a series of COVID-19 vaccine education and vaccination clinics in the coming weeks.
The partnership between the two groups aims to address vaccine hesitancy in the community. Dr. Eva Vivian, president of AAHN and professor in the UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, will lead the education and vaccination efforts with help from colleagues from the African American Health Network and students from the university’s pharmacy and nursing schools.
“On my first day at Goodman, I said I wanted to do something like this, so when Dr. Vivian reached out, I said, ‘Sign us up,’” Goodman Center CEO and Executive Director Letesha Nelson said. “We’re in a unique position where we have the facilities, the staff and the resources to support an effort like this, and we have that connection to the community. They trust us, and I hope they’ll trust us enough to get this vaccine and protect themselves and their families.”
The first clinic is scheduled for Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Community members can also get vaccinated during clinics scheduled throughout the month of May. Everyone who gets vaccinated will be able to return three weeks later to get their second dose of Pfizer’s vaccine.
The clinics are funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ COVID-19 Community Outreach Grant, which was created to increase equity in vaccine distribution statewide.
“Our intention is to focus on providing education as well as vaccines at various churches and community centers,” Dr. Vivian said. “If we were able to address some of the concerns of the community but then had to refer them to a clinic, they might forget about making that appointment and may not become vaccinated. With these clinics, we can offer education and then if the person wants to get vaccinated, we can administer the vaccine to them right then.”
While the clinics are intended for members of the Black community and others who may be hesitant to get vaccinated, clinic organizers said anyone can register.
The dates for the clinics are as follows:
- Friday, April 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 149 Waubesa St.
- Wednesday, May 12 from 5 p.m. t0 7 p.m. at 214 Waubesa St.
- Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. t0 5 p.m. at 149 Waubesa St.
Second-dose clinics will be held three weeks after the first clinics at the same times and places.
Folks can register for the clinic by calling 608-204-8018 during Goodman Center hours (7am-9pm, Mon-Thur; 7am-8pm, Fri; 8:30am-6pm, Sat-Sun).
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