(Orosi, Calif.) – Residents and faculty members from Valley Children’s Resident Diversity Council partnered with Tulare County Health and Human Services, the Cutler-Orosi School District and American Ambulance to hold a vaccine clinic in Orosi on Saturday, Sept. 11.
The clinic was part of a strategy to reduce disparities in access to the COVID-19 vaccine among Hispanic/LatinX American communities. By bringing the vaccines to underserved communities, healthcare providers aim to provide education to the Hispanic community, which has one of the highest vaccine hesitancy rates in our region.
“There is still much hesitation for getting the vaccine, especially in small communities,” Valley Children’s Pediatric Resident Dr. Rafael Gonzalez, one of six pediatric residents who volunteered at the clinic, said. “However, Valley Children’s presence provided reassurance to parents to have their children, ages 12 and older, vaccinated.”
The team vaccinated 117 people during the clinic and plans to hold a second clinic in Orosi on Oct. 2.