Last month marked the one-year anniversary of TVHC providing the COVID vaccines to patients and community members. To date, we have provided over 84,000 vaccinations! 

As we look back and think of all the lives we impacted – from our neighbors, to grandparents that can now hug their grandchildren, to teachers and fellow healthcare workers, we also think back to the work that went into increasing vaccine equity in our community.

At the time, Black and Latinx Californians collectively accounted for 59% of California’s reported COVID-19 infections, but only 19% were vaccinated.

As a health center, TVHC was poised to be the best vehicle to deliver vaccines and work with our community partners to increase the number of vaccinations.

TVHC quickly sprang into action to develop a targeted outreach plan with our promotores, local community leaders, and fellow community organizations, to help us reach those in our community who the pandemic had disproportionately impacted.

By opening vaccination sites at our San Leandro, Hayward, and Union City clinics, by the end of February 2021, TVHC had vaccinated over 12,000 patients and community members.

Although the State of California is planning to enter a less severe phase of the pandemic, COVID-19 is still disproportionately affecting Latinx, Black, Native American, and Pacific Islander communities and community members of low-income.

As we mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID vaccines, there is still a lot more work to do to fight health disparities, increase vaccine equity, and build relationships with community groups who are still hesitant to get vaccinated.

We are grateful for our partnerships with the Hayward and Alameda County Fire Departments, Chabot and Ohlone College Nursing Programs, Eden Church, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Village Connect, New Haven School District, San Lorenzo School District, Alameda Health Consortium, Community Health Center Network, and volunteers from the community for helping us to prevent countless deaths and hospitalizations in our community.

Thank you to our community partners and donors who have joined us in the fight to increase vaccine equity. We look forward to reporting back to everyone on the great work we accomplish together in the year ahead.