CHAT brings COVID-19 vaccines to your front door
Harris County rang in the new year with a surge in COVID-19 cases that is threatening to break records. As the health crisis continues, fostering the health and well-being of immigrant and refugee communities is more important than ever. This population remains among those with the highest infection rates and lowest vaccination rates. Bridging this gap is a challenge that Culture of Health – Advancing Together (CHAT) is tackling with help from our partners.
CHAT provides essential information about testing, vaccine availability, and awareness of COVID-19 preventative measures through live video conversations with healthcare experts. CHAT also has organized health fairs to bring together resources with high-risk communities in the Gulfton area of Houston. Through collaborations with organizations including the US National Guard and Harris County Public Health, at these events, our volunteers have provided families with important information about vaccine effectiveness and opportunities to get vaccinated.
Understanding that our communities needed a more personalized approach to vaccine education & delivery, CHAT now provides door-to-door distribution of vaccines to immigrant and refugee families. This program is made possible in partnership with San Jose Clinic. CHAT volunteers visit nearby neighborhoods accompanied by a San Jose Clinic nurse, who administers the vaccines. Our volunteers interact with and translate for the families, helping to answer their questions and provide them with the information needed to make an informed decision.
“Providing access to care is part of our core mission at CHAT,” said Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, CHAT Executive Director. “Through these efforts, CHAT continues to build trust within the communities we serve. It’s not just a matter of providing the community with the resources they need but understanding the culture well enough to provide it in such a way that it’s well-received.”
The door-to-door vaccine delivery is held several times a week. The program began in the Ashford Crescent Oaks Apartments complex that houses the CHAT offices but has expanded. Nearby apartment complexes are currently being canvassed to provide access to vaccines to area families.
To learn more about volunteering with CHAT, please contact us through the form at https://chattx.org/contact-us/.