Grants from Kaiser Permanente Santa Cruz urge COVID19 vaccination

Kaiser Permanente is increasing access to the COVID-19 vaccine through key partnerships with local community and government organizations in Santa Cruz County, as part of an effort to vaccinate priority populations and those most affected by the pandemic.

By working to remove barriers to vaccinations, Kaiser Permanente’s Santa Cruz County service area is helping to ensure people have convenient access to the vaccine, particularly within neighborhoods and underserved communities. Kaiser Permanente is providing strategic support to community clinics to increase vaccination rates and is enlisting trusted messengers in the community to deliver information about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Kaiser Permanente physician experts are also speaking to community groups to build confidence in the vaccine and address vaccination equity gaps.

Kaiser Permanente has invested $5 million in Northern California to support the equitable roll out of vaccine in the communities we serve. In the Santa Cruz County service area, more than $130,000 is supporting the following vaccination efforts:

· Santa Cruz Community Health – this leading non-profit provider of high-quality, affordable and comprehensive health services will use the grant to promote and provide vaccinations to vulnerable Spanish-speaking and LGBTQ+ residents.

• United Way of Santa Cruz County – a non-profit organization that addresses basic needs such as education and health, United Way will partner with Black Health Matters to set up town halls and panel discussions to address vaccine safety.
• Senderos – a volunteer-based non-profit that works to build community in the LatinX culture, will use the grant to promote and increase vaccination rates among LatinX residents ages 16 and older.

· Community Bridges in Watsonville – an organization dedicated to helping children, families and seniors with programs and services, will use the funding to provide community vaccination outreach and operate a 24/7 vaccination helpline.

“We appreciate Kaiser Permanente’s leadership and role in ensuring equity and access are at the forefront in Santa Cruz County,” said Raymon Cancino, Chief Executive Officer of Community Bridges. “The funding will help us support the vaccination helpline as well as outreach and communications to target those most hesitant to access the vaccine.”

White and higher-income Americans are more likely to have received a vaccine than African American, Hispanic, and lower-income groups.

A recent study by the independent Kaiser Family Foundation (not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente) found one-third of unvaccinated Hispanic adults say they want a vaccine as soon as possible, about twice as many as unvaccinated Black and White adults. However, Hispanics also report more barriers to getting vaccinated including fears about missing work, not being able to get the vaccine from a trusted place or difficulty traveling to a vaccination site.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is committed to increasing vaccination rates by hosting town halls to dispel vaccine myths and educate the community on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, working with faith-based organizations to raise awareness about the vaccine and to provide access to vaccinations in homeless encampments, hard-to-reach neighborhoods and senior populations with barriers to getting vaccinated.

Kaiser Permanente’s approach to the allocation of COVID-19 vaccine is consistent with the organization’s strong legacy of championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We are committed to removing barriers to vaccination, so everyone has access to the vaccine in a timely manner,” said Irene Chavez, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente’s San Jose and Santa Cruz County service areas. “We are proud to be working with our community partners to focus on the equitable distribution of the vaccine, so that together we can bring this pandemic to an end.”