Wellness Bus Delivering Vaccines To Utah Neighborhoods
May 12, 2021, 5:05 PM | Updated: May 13, 2021, 1:13 am
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations continued to drop in Utah and across the country, University of Utah Health and Community Nursing Services teamed up to get the vaccine out to people who still need it.
They started to take the Wellness Bus into neighborhoods for pop-up vaccine clinics.
“We think this is a very important initiative so that we can actually come to the communities to provide low, or no barriers, vaccinations as well as we can,” said Robin Marcus PT, Ph.D., professor and associate dean for clinical affairs with the University of Utah College of Health.
This is part of a new phase of the vaccination campaign. Most of the people eager to get vaccinated have gotten it done or are in the process.
This outreach is critical to determine whether access or hesitancy were still keeping people from rolling up their sleeves.
“The clinics are free. There is no appointment required,” said Marcus.
The pace of vaccinations has slowed. To keep immunity in the community growing, healthcare providers made it easier for those who have not been vaccinated.
The Wellness Bus was at the Kearns Library Wednesday where nurses gave COVID-19 shots. More stops were planned through the end of May. A list of those stops is below.
“This partnership makes sense to do the Wellness Bus so that we can get our nurses and vaccine into disadvantaged communities,” said Kim Dansie, Community Nursing Services Vice President of Business Development.
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident, and you do not need to have a visa to get vaccinated. The busses are administering the Moderna and J&J vaccines. Everybody must be at least 18-years-old.
As demand for the vaccine dropped, health leaders have tried to figure out whether that’s an accessibility issue or hesitancy with the vaccine.
They scheduled stops in communities where they believe it is an access issue and expected to deliver a lot of vaccines.
“We’re hoping that the combination of providing access in these communities, and also helping people to understand the vaccine a little bit more will result in increased uptake of vaccines,” said Marcus.
U of U Health wants to let everyone know that these clinics are up and running.
The Wellness Bus schedule includes the following locations:
- Wed, May 12, 3-7 PM Kearns Library, 4275 W 5345 South, Kearns
- Thu, May 13, 3-7 PM Central Park Community Center, 2797 S 200 East, South Salt Lake
- Fri, May 14, 10 AM-2 PM
- Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson Ave, Ogden
- Mon, May 17, 9 AM-1 PM
- Redwood Recreation Center, 3060 S Lester St., West Valley City
- Tues, May 18, 3-7 PM Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S 900 West, Glendale
- (Please park at the Sorenson Multicultural Center next door at 855 California Ave.)
- Wed, May 19, 3-7 PM Kearns Library, 4275 W 5345 South, Kearns
- Mon, May 24, 9-1 PM
- Redwood Recreation Center, 3060 S Lester St., West Valley City
- Tues, May 25, 3-7 PM
- Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S 900 West, Glendale(Please park at the Sorenson Multicultural Center next door at 855 California Ave.)
