'Vaccine Buddies': When You Need COVID Shot, Who Ya Gonna Call?

COACHELLA VELLEY, CA — The City of Palm Springs, local non-profits and RivCo Workforce Development have launched a new "Vaccine Buddies" program to help Coachella Valley residents, particularly seniors and vulnerable communities, find COVID-19 vaccine appointments.

Any individual who is vaccine-eligible — but unable to procure appointments due to health or technology barriers — can call the organizations' tech-savvy volunteers Mondays through Fridays for assistance.

Numerous, desert non-profits voiced concerns earlier this year that many of their clients were
facing "unnecessary, life-threatening challenges" trying to get vaccinated, organizers said.

Banding together as Coachella Valley "Vaccine Buddies" are volunteers from DAP Health, Jewish Family Services of the Desert, The Joslyn Center, The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert and The Mizell Center.

“If the last year of this worldwide pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that we all must work together toward a common goal to ensure the greater good,” said Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege. “It’s been gratifying and inspiring to see local non-profit organizations join forces to provide much-needed aid to those of us who are most vulnerable.”

Those interested can call one of the numbers below:

• DAP Heath: (760) 992-0408
• Jewish Family Services of the Desert: (760) 325-4088, ext. 200
• The Joslyn Center (55+): (760) 340-3220
• The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert: (760) 416-7790
• The Mizell Center (55+): (760) 323-5689

Spanish speakers can receive assistance by calling Jewish Family Services or Mizell Center.

For more info on "Vaccine Buddies," follow this link.

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