COUNCIL VICE CHAIR DENI TAVERAS APPLAUDS NEW VACCINATION APPROACH SERVING LATINO FAMILIES IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY
More Than 200 University Gardens Housing Complex Residents Receive First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine
Prince George’s County Council Vice Chair Deni Taveras (D- District 2), joined Prince George’s County’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services, and Education, Dr. George Askew, and Salvadoran-American scientist Carlos E. Vela to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to residents of the University Gardens Housing Complex in Adelphi on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
Utilizing an innovative approach designed by Dr. Vela and his team of experts provided in their blueprint, Plan to Overcome America's Immunization Disparities: A Call to Action, vaccinations were provided to households without requiring prior registration.
Vice Chair Taveras, a strong advocate for the blueprint, has championed its cause at the federal, state and local levels, noting the impact of providing vaccination to residents where they live.
“This event, recognized as the most successful in the County’s efforts through its outpatient clinics in the previous two months, proves that the vaccination rate within the Latino community does not stem from hesitation, but from access. We were extremely pleased with the process and the level of participation from residents who may have otherwise not received the vaccine.”
During a four-hour period, 210 residents of the University Gardens Housing Complex received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine against the COVID-19 virus. The vaccination event included four vaccinators, four registrars, four translators, a supervising nurse, and operations manager. Prior engagement with the community was made by Council Member Taveras’ office, and Southern Management, University Garden’s property management team, to prepare the community for the vaccine distribution date—an additional factor that led to the event's success. In three weeks, the clinic will return to offer the second and final dose of the vaccine to fully vaccinate residents.
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