Beebe Healthcare Partners with Multiple Organizations to Bring COVID-19 Vaccine to Vulnerable Populations
Beebe Healthcare and multiple community organizations partnered together to coordinate a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for more than 300 seniors and eligible Delawareans on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Epworth United Methodist Church hosted the event and, along with First State Community Action Agency, collaborated with many community organizations to seek out populations who may have had a barrier to sign up or receive a vaccine in a traditional manner.
“Beebe Healthcare is proud to serve as the medical partner during these events. We know there are health disparities across Delaware, and we’re committed to closing that gap by partnering with many organizations to ensure no one is left behind,” said David A. Tam, MD, MBA, FACHE, President & CEO, Beebe Healthcare. “Now, with the State’s guidance, our focus is on providing the vaccine to everyone who meets the phase 1A and 1B criteria by utilizing community partners to ensure those who may face barriers such as language, disability, transportation, housing situation or internet access have equitable access to the vaccine. This is all in addition to our daily vaccine clinics that are scheduled from our waiting list.”
Because of the partnership with First State, the event was able to include the Nanticoke Indian Tribe of Delaware, as many as 15 churches throughout the county, and numerous other organizations who all played a role in the successful event – and will continue to play a role as more Delawareans are vaccinated every day, said Dr. Tam.
“Helping underserved populations makes a big difference in improving the health of our entire community – we shop at the same stores, eat at the same restaurants, and our kids go to the same schools,” Dr. Tam said. “Our mission is to improve the health of all who live, work, and visit Sussex County because we’re all in this together.”
“First State Community Action Agency is the people’s agency,” said Bernice Edwards, Executive Director of First State Community Action Agency. “Being able to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for vulnerable populations is what embodies the mission and heart of our agency. Thank you to all the partners that help us make this happen.”
A centralized hub for COVID-19 news is right on the Beebe website: beebehealthcare.org/covid-19-vaccine. You can register for Beebe and State of Delaware waiting lists, find important links to find all the different ways and locations to receive the vaccine, watch and share recent town halls, and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccine information.
Captions:
Top: From left to right, Bernice Edwards of First State Community Action Agency, Mickie McManamon of Epworth, Bruce Wright of First State, Dr. David Tam, Beebe Healthcare, Dr. Bill Chasanov, Beebe Healthcare, and Jamie Sayler of First State.
Above: From left to right, Kim Blanch, Beebe Healthcare, Natosha Carmine, Chief of Nanticoke Indian Association, Dr. David Tam, Beebe Healthcare, and Bernice Edwards, First State Community Action Agency.