Through March and April, MPHA and partners held COVID-19 vaccine clinics at every one of our 42 high-rise buildings, with every resident given a chance to sign up. In the end, nearly 1,400 residents received vaccines through this effort (with another 1,400 confirming they had already received a vaccine elsewhere). MPHA considered this effort a top priority given the high proportion of elderly and disabled residents, close living conditions in a high-rise apartment building, and the public health equity priority of reaching low-income communities and people-of-color.
This effort was possible only in partnership with the Minneapolis Health Department, nurses from Hennepin Healthcare, Volunteers of America social workers, and Minneapolis Fire Department EMTs. A few days ahead of many high-rise vaccination clinics, our team coordinated with various multicultural health educators set up lobby tables where they could assist residents with the vaccination forms and answer any questions related to the vaccine.
MPHA fought hard to bring the vaccine to our residents, who suffer disproportionately from the effects of COVID-19, and who have worked so hard to keep their communities healthy during the past year. We have worked to make vaccine connections for residents beyond our high-rises, by connecting residents in our townhomes and scattered sites with information on community clinics who want to serve them.
