Smaller coronavirus vaccination clinics rely on a ‘sense of community’

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia/Boone County Health Department hosted a coronavirus vaccination outreach clinic at the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on Wednesday to give out around 150 second doses.

The outreach clinic was scheduled by the health department's Live Well by Faith Program, which partnered with historically black churches to promote and schedule individuals for the event.

Janice Dawson-Threat, who received her second vaccine dose at the clinic, said she felt more comfortable attending a smaller clinic to receive her vaccine.

"I'm so glad they had this clinic," Dawson-Threat said. "I had great anxiety of waiting and waiting and the lists weren't being responded to ... you're with people you know, it's in a smaller setting, [and] I feel safe."

She said getting her second dose gives her more freedom in her life to return to normalcy.

"I'm very anxious to get back to work and come out of the bubble," Dawson-Threat said. "It's very scary to try to go to the store or have people come into your home to work, so I feel a lot better."

Verna LaBoy, a health educator with the Columbia/Boone Health Department who runs the Live Well by Faith Program, said the goal of the vaccination event is to help "target the vulnerable Black population of this community."

"They were just having so much anxiety about the vaccine," LaBoy said. "We've done many community forums and several leading up to the rollout in addressing all the fears and concerns and the past relationship with the medical community and the African American community nationwide."

LaBoy said after the health department outreach effort, "their fears were calmed and they began to trust." She said the department used the Live Well by Faith community to address vaccination problems in the community.

"We found there were many people trying to get the vaccine but just couldn't be fast enough or didn't have internet or computers," LaBoy said. "It was just a big mess which was bringing more anxiety to the community.

LaBoy said going to a smaller vaccination clinic in a person's own community can help ease some of their fears.

"[It's] more intimate. The intimacy, the fellowship, the camaraderie," LaBoy said. "You knowing people from your community, your neighborhood-you're all in this together. It's kind of a community feeling. They feel very comfortable and at ease."

The department is planning similar events for the future in collaboration with local health care providers such as University of Missouri Health Care and Boone Health.

Sara Humm of the Columbia/Boone County Health Department said the department has discussed a similar event for the Spanish-speaking community. She these events are important to break barriers for people who have difficulty getting a vaccine.

"We know not everyone can make it to a mass vaccination clinic whether it's due to transportation or time frame or whatever it may be," Humm said. "We're focusing on doing outreach clinics like these to make it more accessable to everyone."

The first vaccine clinic held at the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on March 3, gave out 147 doses. Individuals unable to make it for their second dose on Wednesday can contact the health department for further information on receiving their additional dose.

According to the state vaccination website, 30.2% of Boone County has received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.