Bringing COVID-19 Vaccines Where They Are Needed Most
First-year College of Medicine – Phoenix student Bernice Alcanzo preps a COVID-19 vaccine under the mentorship of Dr. Jim Lindgren, clinical assistant professor of medicine.
In a push for more equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health collaborated with the University of Arizona Health Sciences to implement a pilot vaccine distribution program on Feb. 8, 2021, at El Mirage Senior Village, a public housing complex in the primarily Spanish-speaking city of El Mirage in the Phoenix metro area. The team tested the registration and distribution process, and trained students at the College of Medicine – Phoenix and the College of Pharmacy in Phoenix to administer vaccines.
The larger force behind this pilot program was the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health’s well-established Primary Prevention Mobile Health Unit (MHU) program, which was brought to the Phoenix campus in 2016 by Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS, associate dean of community engagement and outreach – Phoenix programs.
Maricopa County has worked with the MHUs before, and county health officials say they recognize that the team has nurtured strong relationships and trust in the communities they serve. Officials say they hope to expand the program to make vaccine distribution in Maricopa County more equitable.
Petra Falcon, executive director of Promise Arizona, a faith-based organization working toward comprehensive immigration reform, is present for the pilot vaccine distribution program for seniors in a public housing complex. The pilot was a collaboration between the University of Arizona Health Sciences and Maricopa County.
The Mobile Health Unit’s Phoenix team from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health on Feb. 8 for the COVID-19 vaccine distribution pilot at El Mirage Senior Village. From left: Jeffery Hanna, Mackenzie Tewell (Maricopa County Department of Public Health liaison), Dr. Cecilia Rosales, Alma Ramirez, Maria Jaime and Maryell Martinez.
Second-year College of Pharmacy student Lisa Wan helps set up the check-in table in the courtyard of El Mirage Senior Village in El Mirage, Arizona.
A table is stocked with the essentials: alcohol prep pads, needles, a vaccine card, gloves and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Nicole Henry, assistant professor at the College of Pharmacy in Phoenix, holds a tablet with information assisting pharmacy student Lisa Wan as she fills out a vaccination card for a vaccine recipient.
Nancy Alvarez, College of Pharmacy associate dean of academic and professional affairs for Phoenix, speaks with an elderly vaccine recipient from El Mirage Senior Village public housing complex. Patients stay under observation for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
A resident from El Mirage Senior Village reads information about the COVID-19 vaccine as she waits to receive the first dose.
A Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vial can have up to 10 doses. About 30 residents at El Mirage Senior Village received the vaccine.
Maria Jaime, health educator from the College of Public Health in Phoenix, sanitizes a chair before the next patient sits down to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Shae Corea, a health care navigator for El Mirage Senior Village, gives a thumbs up before she receives the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Jim Lindgren, director of simulation curriculum and clinical assistant professor at College of Medicine in Phoenix, trains medical and pharmacy students to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Jim Lindgren demonstrates how to prep a vaccine.
First-year College of Medicine student Bernice Alcanzo preps a COVID-19 vaccine as Dr. Jim Lindgren watches her.
First-year College of Medicine – Phoenix student Colton Cowan preps a COVID-19 vaccine.
Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine vials are stored in a portable cooler called a Crēdo Cube. Alongside it are three empty vials.
First-year College of Medicine – Phoenix student Bernice Alcanzo gives a COVID-19 vaccine to Alice Scott, resident service coordinator at El Mirage Senior Village, as Dr. Jim Lindgren assists.
As the COVID-19 vaccine distribution pilot at El Mirage Senior Village wraps up for the day, Dr. Cecilia Rosales of the College of Public Health leads a discussion with her team to learn what worked and what could be improved upon.
First-year College of Medicine – Phoenix classmates Colton Cowan, Bernice Alcanzo and Alexis Montoya celebrate a successful day volunteering with a pilot vaccine distribution program in a predominately Spanish-speaking area of metro Phoenix.
College of Medicine – Phoenix classmates Alexis Montoya, Bernice Alcanzo and Colton Cowan leave El Mirage Senior Housing complex, where they helped implement a pilot COVID-19 vaccine distribution program.
El Mirage Senior Housing staff and University of Arizona Health Sciences team celebrate with Shae Corea after she won an award for her work.