Vaccine Access & Equity
To stop the spread of COVID-19, we must ensure easy, equitable access to vaccines—starting with communities that are made most vulnerable due to systemic inequities.
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PHI's strategic initiatives are urgent or emerging health issues that need attention, resources and expertise. Here's how you can help.
Working alongside community leaders & networks to dismantle barriers to vaccines
As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country, it has become clear in many places that the people who need them most—including non-English speakers, essential workers, and Black and brown communities who are dying at disproportionate rates—simply aren’t able to access them. Whether it is navigating online sign-ups, needing a car, or just being able to take time off of work, the barriers are in the system itself.
Working alongside community leaders, local organizations and existing networks, PHI is partnering on the ground to address these barriers directly: resourcing and partnering with trusted community experts, organizations and networks; developing and using culturally resonant, primary language materials and outreach; and finding creative, innovative solutions to bring down barriers.
We’ve coordinated vaccine access for millions of people in vulnerable California communities; developed messaging strategies for public health practitioners to communicate more clearly and effectively about vaccines; launched emergency preparedness and COVID-19 response campaigns centered on the needs of people with disabilities, seniors and older adults and people in poverty; and more. In addition, we’re lifting up what works by bringing together leaders in the field to discuss proven and pioneering strategies, and developing and sharing vaccine equity resources, videos, toolkits and more.
Program Spotlight: Together Toward Health
Launched in response to the pandemic, our Together Toward Health initiative provides funding to more than 500 community-based organizations across California so they can provide COVID prevention information, outreach to Californians in their primary languages (like Punjabi and Purepecha, an indigenous Nahuatl dialect, and dozens of languages) and host mobile pop-up vaccination sites at Black churches, in farmworker communities and more.
Thanks to Together Toward Health, grantees have coordinated access to get thousands of California farmworkers vaccinated, conducted outreach to elders about vaccine access and appointments, hosted online live Q&A sessions, trained outreach workers and system navigators, and more.
Our Impact
See all Vaccine Access & Equity Impacts
- 27M+ individuals provided greater COVID-19 response & vaccine equity access through PHI's Together Toward Health
- 548 community-based organizations working as experts in their own communities, in partnership with PHI's Together Toward Health
- 134K disabled & socially vulnerable Californians received COVID-19 resources & information, thanks to PHI's Center on Disability
Programs
Active Programs
Archived Programs
See how black faith leaders in San Bernardino are building trust and access to COVID-19 vaccines among their congregants
PHI Experts Working on this Issue:
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