Meeting people where they’re at

Community leaders guide OHSU efforts to vaccinate hard-hit communities with an urgency that is only intensifying as the state re-opens

By Erin Hoover Barnett and Mariana Phipps July 09, 2021 Portland, Oregon

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Vaccine Equity Team

OHSU Vaccine Equity Team members gather in the break room at Emmanuel Central Church. Back, from left, Angela Wright (KCVI); Jeanine Smith (Family Medicine); Donn Spight (Surgery/Committee Co-Chair); Leda Garside (Hillsboro Medical Center). Front from left, Jenny Lee Berry (Community Relations), Leslie Garcia (School of Medicine) and Christopher Evans (Medicine/Infectious Disease). (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Portland City Blessing Church clinic

From left, Harina Aimaga and Desty Inas got the shot at the Portland City Blessing Church clinic in April. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Maribel Sanchez

Maribel Sanchez brought her elderly mother to the clinic at St. Peters Catholic Church in Southeast Portland, where her mother attends mass. Sanchez was grateful for a clinic where her mom, who speaks mostly Spanish and has mobility challenges, felt comfortable coming to get vaccinated. "This is everybody coming together for everybody else," Sanchez said. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Pastor Oscar Surjadi

Pastor Oscar Surjadi of Portland City Blessing Church. (Photo courtesy of Pastor Surjadi)

Portland City Blessing Church clinic

Aaron Rempel, left, and Emily Rempel, right, comfort their son Samuel Rempel, 12, as he gets his first dose at the Portland City Blessing Church clinic in May. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

the Rempel family

Three generations of the Rempel family celebrate after getting vaccinated together at the Portland City Blessing Church clinic in May. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Muslim Community Center of Portland vaccine clinic

From left, Levell Thomas, Donn Spight and Mark Jackson at the Muslim Community Center of Portland vaccine clinic in May. Thomas and Jackson are pastors of the Oasis of Praise International Ministries in Portland. Spight, M.D., is co-chair of the OHSU Vaccine Equity Committee. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Forrest Taylor

OHSU is working with community groups to provide vaccinations for COVID-19. All community members 12 and older are welcome to get a vaccine at these events without an appointment or identification. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Interpreters are key partners

Interpreters have been key partners at the vaccine equity clinics. Amal Osman, left, and Hodan Abdi, Somali speakers who work for Passport to Languages helped out at the Muslim Community Center clinic in May. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)

Muslim Community Center clinic courtyard

Kat Phillips, clinic manager for the OHSU Spine Center, front left, and Teasha Schmidt, right, a project coordinator in ambulatory care for OHSU, have run logistics for many of the vaccine equity clinics. At the Muslim Community Center clinic, they set up a work and break station under a tree in the centers peaceful courtyard for OHSU staff. (OHSU/Erin Hoover Barnett)