This year, the theme of National Public Health Week (Monday, April 5, through Sunday, April 11) is “Building Bridges to Better Health,” a reminder that although we may be physically distant from each other, it’s more important than ever to come together and build community.

Amida Care’s Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) community providers are helping vulnerable communities access COVID-19 vaccinations. Just as they have offered crucial services to underserved neighborhoods – mostly communities of color and communities with high rates of poverty – throughout the pandemic, FQHCs are working to get vaccines to the people who need them most. Amida Care is working with our providers to offer support, including patient outreach and follow-up.

Read the following highlights from some providers in Amida Care’s network:

Amida Care is collaborating with Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in a joint effort to get our members vaccinated. This includes:

• calling members and educating them on the vaccine;
• providing forms and assistance in filling them out prior to appointments; and
• offering assistance in scheduling appointments.

Amida Care staff is also assisting members in filling out paperwork at vaccine locations. Callen-Lorde has a dedicated webpage with important information and updates regarding the vaccine and its availability. The center is proactively reaching out to eligible patients and has administered approximately 2,400 vaccines so far.

Acacia Network has administered 3,526 vaccines for 2,207 patients. Vaccines are administered by appointment Monday-Friday at several Bronx locations. The center’s bilingual staff is available to answer questions. Check out Acacia Network’s vaccination webpage for more updates.

Apicha Community Health Center has given approximately 900 vaccines so far, and is reaching out to patients individually as more doses become available. The center’s COVID vaccine availability webpage includes a form to download to certify eligibility.

Community Healthcare Network (CHN) is contacting all eligible patients to plan their visits to get vaccinated per New York City Department of Health guidelines. As of March 31, 1,682 patients have received one does, and 1,550 have received a second dose.  CHN is also working with community partners and faith based organizations to set-up vaccination sites in some of the hardest hit and underserved areas of NYC, and so far 879 doses have been distributed at these sites.

Harlem United began offering the COVID-19 vaccine in early January at The Nest Community Health Center. As of March 20, a total of 1,671 patients have received one dose, and 902 have received a second dose. Of the 91 people living with HIV who have received the first dose, 34 have received the second. Public figures including former New York Governor David Paterson and Emmy Award-winning actor S. Epatha Merkerson chose The Nest as the location of their own vaccinations. Harlem United’s vaccination webpage includes contact information to request an appointment, along with answers to frequently asked questions.

As of March 22, Housing Works has vaccinated 1,834 people with the first dose, and 1,064 people with both doses.

Mount Sinai has distributed 94,960 first doses and 169,700 combined first and second doses so far. Their COVID vaccine webpage includes detailed information about vaccine availability and other questions. Mount Sinai is working with the company NewsGuard to provide the most accurate information and dispel myths about the vaccine. As its vaccine supply permits, Mount Sinai is reaching out to eligible patients and community members to schedule appointments.

Sun River Health is currently offering vaccinations to its members by appointment. So far, it has distributed approximately 40,000 vaccines. Visit its vaccination webpage for more information.

We salute these providers, our other sponsors, St. Mary’s Center and VillageCare, and the many other dedicated providers in our network for their ongoing vaccination efforts to serve New York’s most vulnerable populations.