April 2, 2021
Increases in the availability of vaccines are providing hope for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. But even with more shots in arms, minority groups and other underserved populations continue to lack vital access and are disproportionately impacted by the virus.
Deeply rooted in the communities they serve, members of the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) and their provider partners are working in tandem to prioritize targeted outreach to and vaccinations of their most at-risk members:
- Kaiser Permanente launched a Vaccine Equity Toolkit for health orgs and local governments that provides resources for measuring and reporting equity in vaccinations and recommendations for reaching vulnerable communities
- SSM Health is partnering with a local restaurant to host a vaccination clinic to reach more frontline workers
- UPMC Health Plan is partnering with local community organizations to combat vaccine misinformation and administer shots for at-risk populations
- Marshfield Clinic, the CDC’s sole reference laboratory, is studying vaccine effectiveness to help improve administration and curb hesitancy
A recent letter to the Biden Administration COVID-19 Equity Task Force highlights additional on-the-ground efforts of ACHP member plans in communities across the nation.
The health care industry will continue to face obstacles in confronting COVID-19. Serving as trusted community partners, ACHP’s nonprofit health organizations remain steadfast in their efforts to support an equitable vaccination process for all.
Additional information on efforts of ACHP plans and their affiliated systems during this public health crisis is available here.
