Top health equity nonprofits partner to ensure vaccine access in an under-resourced community.
PICO-UNION– National Health Foundation (NHF), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of under-resourced communities, and Clínica Msr. Oscar A. Romero, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit and Federal Qualified Health Center (FQHC), successfully administered 121 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Pico-Union residents during the organizations’ Free Pico-Union COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Wednesday, April 14.
The event, which took place at NHF’s Pico-Union recuperative care facility, was designed to ensure vaccine access in one of Los Angeles’ most under-resourced communities, which has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinic also supported vaccine access for individuals experiencing homelessness, including guests of NHF’s recuperative care programs.
NHF and Clínica Romero’s free vaccine clinic comes at a critical time in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine roll-out efforts. While many of Los Angeles’ predominately white and affluent neighborhoods are currently over 50% vaccinated, just over a quarter (27.4%) of Pico-Union residents, 96% of which are non-white, have been vaccinated against COVID-19. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 death rate among Latinx residents in Los Angeles County reached triple the rate for white residents.
“COVID-19 has had disproportionate, devastating effects on Los Angeles’ communities of color, like Pico-Union,” explained National Health Foundation President & CEO, Kelly Bruno. “NHF is proud to partner with Clínica Romero so that we can bring the COVID-19 vaccine to communities that need it most and help dismantle deadly barriers to care.”
“This was another successful day of vaccinating our homeless community and neighbors in partnership with National Health Foundation,” stated Carlos Vaquerano, Executive Director of Clínica Romero. “Our team continues to work hard in collaboration with all of our partners to help bring an end to this pandemic.”
Clínica Romero administrated the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Moderna vaccine with the support of NHF’s certified nursing staff.
About National Health Foundation
Founded in 1973, National Health Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation that works within communities to eliminate barriers to health, address the root causes of poor health and advocate and empower under-resourced communities to find solutions that lead to lasting change. Embracing the guiding philosophy that health begins where we live, learn, work and play, the organization’s advocacy and work focuses on four key areas: housing, food access, built environment and education. In 2020, NHF secured $250,000 in food benefits for local families, assisted 356 individuals in submitting applications for government food benefits and provided 250 nutrition education and physical activity classes.
For more information about the National Health Foundation, please visit nationalhealthfoundation.orgor connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter (@NHFcommunity).
About Clínica Msr. Oscar A. Romero
Clínica Romero was founded in 1983 by Salvadoran refugees and their allies. Our mission is to provide quality, affordable and culturally sensitive health care and other services to the uninsured, insured, and underserved communities of greater Los Angeles regardless of their ability to pay by upholding the legacy and tradition of Monseñor Oscar Romero, and educating and empowering Salvadoran and other community members through community organizing, health education, social justice, and exchange programs in El Salvador.