Mobile vaccination unit stops at All Saints Church
North side site, other places of worship to be key in gaining trust of underserved populations
In an attempt to reach underserved communities and bridge racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates, Milwaukee Health Department held its first temporary vaccination clinic Thursday at a church on the city’s north side.
A team of vaccinators from the health department, five members of the Wisconsin National Guard and a nurse set up an operation to vaccinate about 250 to 300 people from the community in the basement of at All Saints Catholic Church, at North 25th Street and West Capitol Drive.
Those who received vaccinations Thursday included some white residents along with many residents of color. The health department said it will hold additional similar clinics to target diverse neighborhoods.
Recently, a parishioner connected the Rev. James Arthur with the health department, which agreed to bring its new mobile vaccination unit to All Saints. Church staff were in charge of reaching out to the community and scheduling appointments.
“It’s important for us to provide the service and the capacity to do it, and then work with the organization to get the word out,” said Nick Tomaro, preparedness coordinator for the health department.
With a few days’ notice, church staff sent out robocalls to members and contacted some parishioners directly, Arthur said. Others could register through the city’s website.
“We did it fast. They helped us a lot,” he said of the health department.
Another temporary clinic is being held Friday at St. Benedict the Moor Parish, 930 W. State St.
All appointments have been filled, and it is not open to the public, Tomaro said.
The clinics are part of the health department’s efforts to bridge racial disparities in the current vaccine rollout and reach residents who might lack a health care provider, access to the internet or transportation downtown to the city’s main site.
Rosemary Murphy, director of outreach for All Saints, said the church was a convenient location
for many of the underserved residents the clinic was trying to reach.
“This is a central point in this area code,” Murphy said. “Plus we have many elderly parishioners. Many people don’t have cars, or they rely on buses, so this is wonderful.”
All Saints’ location was also an advantage for Tony Miller, who lives a seven-minute drive away. He heard about open slots Thursday afternoon from a friend. The church is on a bus line and an easy walk away for residents the Garden Homes neighborhood, he said.
“It’s a really good thing because now you’re going in depth, into the neighborhood, where most people are really skeptical of getting the vaccination,” he said. “And if more churches did this, especially if a lot of our Black churches did this, we would probably get a lot more people who would agree to the vaccination.”
Since more than half of doses were still available by midday, but few additional appointments were scheduled, Tomaro was working to bring in more eligible people. He contacted the Bread of Healing clinic, which provides free medical care to low-income residents, as well as some other nearby churches, and Arthur made more calls to parishioners.
An unclear number of others from outside neighborhood heard about openings at All Saints through word of mouth and arrived in search of an appointment.
It appears that some people who didn’t meet current eligibility requirements were able to book appointments either through the church or on the city’s website and get vaccinated that day. Others were turned away.
Tomaro said he understands many want the vaccine, but vaccine providers must follow priority lists until supply is more widely available.
“We are doing the absolute best we can to work within those criteria at all times,” he said.
Crescenta Jones of Milwaukee was on the wait list at Bread of Healing and was happy to get a call from the clinic during her lunch hour. A teacher at a day care center, Jones said she will feel safer working with the children.
“It’s protection for us as well as them,” Jones said.
Jenny Aicher, a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher, heard from a friend there were openings at All Saints Thursday. She said she is relieved to get some protection from COVID-19 after a year of being “super strict” and staying home.
“I almost cried multiple times on the way here with excitement,” she said.
Many said they were excited about the prospect of a return to normalcy. Miller said he’s looking forward to tossing all his masks, one day.
He encouraged everyone to get the vaccine, “even those who have doubts. If you don’t want to do it for yourself, do it for somebody else,” he said.
Places of worship play key role in vaccine rollout
In communities hesitant to get the vaccine, clinics at places of worship could provide trust and a sense of comfort, local faith leaders have said.
“Everybody trusts a church,” Miller said. “It’s a sanctuary for people. And if the church feels safe about this, you should feel safe about it, too.”
About a third of Black adults say they will “wait and see” about getting the vaccine, according to a recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation — a higher share than white and Hispanic adults.
They also rank highest in likelihood to turn to a religious leader for guidance when considering whether to get the vaccine. About a third of Black adults said they would, compared to 29% of Hispanic adults and 11% of white adults, the same study found.
Arthur, who has followed research on the vaccine closely, has talked to his parishioners about it for weeks. He received the vaccine himself and said he knows the influence his words can have on members.
“It’s hard for some people,” he said. “They don’t trust.”
He has found that sharing some of the science with worried members can be persuasive.
The health department’s mobile vaccination unit will also host six clinics next week specifically for teachers and child care workers.
The sites will be open to Milwaukee Public Schools staff at North Division High School on Tuesday and Thursday and at South Division High School on Wednesday and Friday. There will also be a mobile site on Tuesday at the Mitchell Street Library and on Wednesday at the Villard Square Library for all educators, including those who work in child care.
Those looking to sign up for an appointment through the City of Milwaukee can visit the city’s website Milwaukee.gov/CovidVax or call 414286-6800.
Tomaro said the health department plans to partner with more places of worship in the future.