COUNTY INITIATIVE AIMS TO GET VACCINE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
Project SAVE program started in South County, has since expanded
More than 99 percent of the 65 and older population in South Bay have already received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
It’s an accomplishment county Supervisor Nora Vargas credits in part to initiatives such as Project SAVE (Scheduling Assistance for Vaccine Equity), which began as a pilot program in February.
This county initiative seeks to guarantee access to the vaccine for people who live or work in the hardest-hit communities outside the traditional online appointment system, according to officials.
As part of the program, each day a certain number of the available appointments are set aside to be distributed among the most vulnerable with the help of community organizations.
The program focused initially on South County, which includes Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, San Ysidro and National City. Recently, it was expanded to include other
ZIP codes in North County and central San Diego.
“We know it’s working,” Vargas said. “There are promotoras and community members who are working with us to get the information out.”
Now that vaccine eligibility is extended to everyone 16 and older in California, the plan is for the program to continue.
“There is still a lot of inequity when it comes to vaccines,” Vargas said. “We’re going to change it and to keep fighting for equity, but
right now we have come together as a community.”
Health workers, or promotoras, have online access to reserve appointments at selected vaccination sites for communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID. The program is intended to reach those who face language or technology barriers, or require assistance to schedule their own appointments.
Among the organizations collaborating in this effort are the
San Diego Latino Health Coalition, Chicano Federation, Mental Health of San Diego, Multicultural Health Foundation, Somali Family Services of San Diego, United Women of East Africa, Union of Pan Asian Communities, San Diego Refugee Communities and Casa Familiar, according to the county.
The county also opened two walk-in vaccination sites. The first at the Border View YMCA in Otay Mesa (for certain zip codes) and most recently, at the Educational Cultural Complex in Mountain View in southeastern San Diego.
Local groups reach out to people through their databases or waiting lists, via phone call, email, or in person.
Twice a week Sandra Mendoza, a coordinator with the San Diego Latino Health Coalition, set up a table with a laptop outside a
vaccination hub at Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach.
The goal is to help those who have had no luck scheduling an appointment online yet. As part of the program, Mendoza has access to a different appointment system than anyone would have from their computer at home. The number of reserved appointments available varies each day.
“The vast majority come after a friend or a relative referred them, so the word gets out and people start lining up,” Mendoza said.
Appointments can be for the same site at Mar Vista High School or for other locations. Occasionally, some are lucky enough to find an available slot for the same day, but that is not always the case.
Chula Vista resident Yadira Pelayo was one of the lucky ones. Her daughter, who was vaccinated there, saw the table and told her about it.
“I think it’s great,” she said of the one-on-one personal
assistance, rather than online. Within five minutes an appointment was scheduled for the next hour.
If no dates are available, people are added to a waiting list and get notified by a coalition representative once a slot becomes available. It’s the same with other local organizations that support the program.
Since the opening of a vaccination hub at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, Cecilia Guzman, coordinator of its health desk or ventanilla de salud, said they have received many calls seeking appointments or looking for information.
The ventanilla de salud partners with Project SAVE.
Consul General Carlos González Gutiérrez praised the effort to secure access for all, regardless of their immigration status.
“Wisely, the county turns to and relies on a network of health promoters who help the most vulnerable sectors to navigate through the health system,” said González Gutiérrez, who added that this initiative provides the tools needed to accomplish this task in a more “efficient and productive” way.
The Latino community has been hit the hardest by the pandemic in San Diego County. They represent 55 percent of the COVID-19 cases and nearly 45 percent of the deaths.
Even though she agrees the program is working, Nancy Maldonado, Chicano Federation CEO, believes the challenge remains in the vaccine supply.
“The idea is wonderful, and once the vaccine supply starts to increase and there is more available it will be a program that would be really beneficial for our communities,” Maldonado said.
“I see a need for Project SAVE for a long time to come because we are still going to be needing to help people scheduling appointments for the foreseeable future,” she said.