Delaware steps up efforts to get vaccine to underserved communities

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Delaware is stepping up efforts to vaccinate minority communities and elderly not able to come to vehicle-focused  mass vaccination events.

Over the last two weeks, the state has piloted a series of efforts aimed at vaccinating  the hardest-to-reach seniors.

This included partnering with community organizations to invite seniors to an event at Salesianum School in Wilmington and to an event at the Wilmington campus of Delaware Technical Community College. This past weekend, the state reached out to seniors, including those in low-income communities, to provide them appointments to a vaccination event at the Chase Center in Wilmington.  

As of Monday, February 1, the State of Delaware and its partners had administered 103,791 Covid-19 vaccinations. Despite state and partner efforts, only  four percent of those vaccinated are Black, according to Delaware’s vaccine tracker. Just two  percent identify as Hispanic or Latino.  More than 20 percent of the state’s population is Black, with Hispanics accounting for more than six percent of the state’s residents.

The vaccine gap has been noted nationwide, with one wealthy white island community in Florida seeing a 50 percent vaccination rate.

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At the same time, in 31 percent of vaccination records, race is unreported. Gov. John Carney said he plans to announce steps this week to ensure that enrolled vaccination providers report race and other demographic information. 

Additional efforts from the state…

  • The Community Health Services unit at DPH will begin partnering with the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) this week to vaccinate 65+ Delawareans in senior high-rises as part of a larger effort to reach seniors who don’t have access to technology or who may have mobility challenges.   
  • Enrolled pharmacies will receive an allocation of 4,000 doses this week, with a focus on pharmacies serving underserved communities.   
  • Hospital systems and specialty care providers – including ChristianaCare, Beebe Healthcare, ENT & Allergy of Delaware, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – also are creating events in partnership with the State of Delaware to vaccinate 65-plus  Delawareans, including underserved populations.

“Our goal remains the same: we’re working to vaccinate as many Delawareans as possible, as quickly as possible,” said Carney. “We also need to make sure we’re distributing the vaccine equitably and reaching especially those Delaware seniors who are less mobile and don’t have access to a computer or smartphone. These additional efforts by the Division of Public Health and their partners will expand access to the Covid-19 vaccine among those populations, so we can reach all of our neighbors with this life-saving vaccine.” 

Other  vaccination efforts this week

  • SECOND DOSES: First responders previously vaccinated by DPH will receive second doses in a series of events. The first of those events was held on Monday in Dover operated by Curative. Another six events will be held at first responder facilities around the state between February 3 and February 18, coordinated by DPH staff.   
  • PARTNER EVENTS: Curative will vaccinate about 2,000 individuals at indoor events from Tuesday through Friday in Dover. All appointments have already been filled from outreach to the waiting list at vaccinerequest.delaware.gov. Vault Health will resume its vaccinations in Wilmington next week, and Curative appointments will be scheduled in Dover as well, with invitations made available to individuals registered on the waiting list. 
  • PROVIDERS: Hospitals will receive about 4,000 doses this week to administer to 65+ Delawareans, as well as their own Phase 1A health care workers. Health care systems have also been asked to coordinate with underserved communities and faith-based communities to vaccinate vulnerable seniors.   
  • EDUCATORS: The Delaware Department of Education (DOE) is coordinating vaccination for 1,200 educators and school staff this week.  

No large drive-up events at DMV centers have been announced to date after the state announced a “sprint” to get more doses into arms.

Delaware and other states continue to see limited supplies of vaccine, especially when it comes toPfizer/BioInTech offerings. Moderna doses outnumber Pfizer’s by about two to one. The drive-up and other mass events will be needed in making headway to vaccinate 1B, which includes  about 200,000 Delawareans.

“We are proud to have reached the mark of 100,000 doses delivered so far in our Covid-19 vaccination efforts. That’s about a tenth of our population who has reduced their risk already even before the second dose, since the first dose has 52% to 80% effectiveness,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Division of Public Health. “Our goal is to keep expanding the network of options for getting vaccinated, including finding ways to reach individuals and communities where large vaccination events are not a suitable option.” 

 

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