Spotlight: GET VACCINATED MICHIGAN QUARTERLY REPORT
Our second quarter (October - December 2021) of local COVID Vaccine Hub activity emphasized just how quickly the environment around COVID changes, and how quickly we must adapt. When we began our program, we did not imagine the level of vaccine hesitancy and resistance in some communities; nor did we expect the speed of variants and youth vaccine availability.
Our second quarter of programming led us to new approaches and new partnerships, granting over $340,000 to new programs and strategies. We saw more clearly the impact of individual stories and personal relationships, and we came to clearly understand that this work "is a marathon, not a sprint."
Highlighted Stories This Quarter:
Heart of West Michigan United Way:
“One of our clients came to the Hispanic Center requesting our navigation services when we had our mobile vaccination clinic in our parking lot. Our Promotora de Salud asked her about the vaccine and our client mentioned she was scared to get it. Our Promotora offered to hold her hand and walked with her through the entire process. She ended up getting the vaccine and sent a few of her relatives to our vaccination efforts the following week."
“We were able to assist a gentleman from Jackson, MI that was released from the MDOC, who didn’t have an ID, clothing, or a place to live. We were able to assist him in attending a vaccine clinic, placed him in a group home, and got him clothing. He will be able to obtain and maintain both a new full-time job and housing by February.”
Moving Forward:
While it plays out differently across our communities, the COVID Vaccine Hub model is simple: identify trusted individuals and organizations to serve as messengers and champions; provide information for fact-based decision-making; provide access to funding and other resources to achieve our shared goals. It's a model that works, and people notice!