Mobile vaccination clinic comes to Yad Ezra Friday

The Yad Ezra kosher food pantry in Berkley is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday.

The clinic is being done in partnership with Wayne Health’s mobile unit, in affiliation with Wayne State University, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Organizers said there will be drive-through and walk-up vaccinations available for anyone ages 18 and older.

Yad Ezra is at 2850 W. 11 Mile Road, two blocks west of Coolidge Highway. Though the food pantry serves Jewish families, the vaccines are available to anyone.

No appointment is required.

To complete pre-intake consent, patients can text “WH VAX” to 48355.

Patients can call 248548-3663 for more information or email info@yadezra.org.

Wayne Health will administer the first doses of the Moderna vaccine from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, and patients return Friday, May 21 for their second doses.

Lea Luger, executive director of the nonprofit Yad Ezra, said her long effort to bring vaccines to the families the food pantry serves came about with the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

“There is a hesitancy and reluctance from some to get the vaccine,” Luger said. “But if we offer a mobile unit to bring the vaccines here it might move the needle because (our clients) trust us. People can stay in their car if they want, and the nurse will come to you and stick your arm” with the vaccine.

Yad Ezra serves 1,100 low-income families per month, and distributes over 900,000 pounds of food each year.

“Hosting these clinics at locations like the kosher food pantry – imperative and central to the Jewish community to help solve food insecurity, poverty and disproportionate health outcomes – has been a focus for Blue Cross and vaccine administrators across the state,” said Elise Salerno, senior community affairs representative for Blue Cross, in a statement. “Our work continues in serving those most socially vulnerable, one shot, one clinic at a time.”