Jefferson vaccine clinic targets vulnerable groups

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital hosted a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic Thursday for minority patients 75 and older who live in communities near the hospital and who rank high on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index.

The index measures factors such as socioeconomic status, housing type and transportation access. The clinic was open only to patients who have had appointments for the vaccine scheduled by AHN.

The clinic took place at the hospital’s Bibro Building, and Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew said a majority of residents who visited the clinic were Africa-American and Latino.

She said the hospital administered 250 Moderna shots. They were the first round of vaccinations, and a second Moderna shot is needed 28 days later to complete the process. 

Those who received the vaccines scheduled their second shot while at the clinic.

Larkins-Pettigrew said AHN targeted residents who may have had a negative attitude towards the medical community.

“A lot of planning went into this to make sure it happened,” she said. “It’s innovative and it’s out of the box. 

“These are marginalized communities and there’s a lot of distrust. We wanted to make sure we eliminated that. This is how we move beyond the barriers. Because of the history of what’s happened in this country in the past regarding research, people are afraid.”

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