To combat disparities in the accessibility of vaccines and increase vaccination rates among racial and ethnic minority groups in New York City, ACT partners with the NYC DOHMH to increase equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and information in areas with disproportionate healthcare support, systematic racism, and low healthcare funding. The major issues are vaccine accessibility and how accepting people are to get vaccination.
The population in Flatbush, Brooklyn consists of primarily Black, Hispanic, and white individuals. In this neighborhood, ACT:
Create communication messages and materials to distribute accurate information on COVID-19 through flyers
Share CDC COVID-19 information and updates through mailing lists and Facebook (@actcarefoundation) to increase outreach online
Make vaccine appointments
Host events for community conversations, both in-person and virtually, with community members to understand their reasons for getting vaccinated or not
Engage with the community to better understand the primary barriers for vaccination to address the disparities.
Provide paid job opportunities for apprentices to learn through community involvement
Additionally, ACT distributes other community resources such as:
Bags of fresh fruits, vegetables, and non-perishable foods were distributed to families