VaxConnect provides vaccine education, access

Jul. 24—HIGH POINT — YWCA High Point's door-to-door vaccination outreach effort, VaxConnect, is making house calls to provide education about COVID-19 vaccinations, schedule appointments and arrange transportation to vaccine sites.

YWCA VaxConnectors had knocked at 2,954 doors and scheduled 182 vaccine appointments for 18% of unvaccinated individuals in the targeted areas as of Friday, said Giselle Mansi, who directs the YWCA Latino Family Center.

"We're finding, for some people, this is the first time they're actually talking about the vaccine and what they're hearing," Mansi said. "When my team goes out, they are well-trained by the county and they make people feel very comfortable. They've answered so many questions. We also carry little goodie bags. We leave them with more information, statistics and knick-knacks as well."

The effort sends a small group of people dressed in orange knocking on doors in neighborhoods where the vaccination rate is low, and it draws attention, she said.

"People who are driving by will stop and say, 'Who are you and what's going on?' " Mansi said. "Most of the time they're curious to see who are these people in bright orange coming in with a purple wagon and little baggies."

Their efforts will become more obvious after Guilford County Public Health's new mobile unit follows them to some of the neighborhoods they are canvassing. The mobile unit will enhance VaxConnect by having vaccines right then and there if someone is ready to get a shot, said Dr. Iulia Vann, director of the Guilford County Division of Public Health. Vann recently told the Guilford County Board of Commissioners she hopes the Health Department can expand the program.

"We're learning from the VaxConnect program in High Point," Vann said. "Now it's turning into an incredibly successful program that we want to also model in Greensboro."

An Associated Press analysis of government data found nearly all coronavirus-related deaths are now among people who aren't vaccinated — a demonstration of the effectiveness of the vaccines.

YWCA High Point launched VaxConnect on May 18 in partnership with the Health Department to provide education about the COVID-19 vaccine, with funding from the Foundation for a Healthy High Point, Hayden-Harman Foundation and city of High Point. The six-month pilot program's goal is to increase vaccinations in the 27260 and 27262 ZIP codes among those who are hesitant or who lack access to transportation.

YWCA High Point also is working with community partners to coordinate with neighborhood associations and identify and provide volunteers, Executive Director Heidi Majors said.

"We continue to bring in other partners to help us," Majors said. "Everything's always changing. Now that the mobile unit is up and running, that's emerging. As the needs change, we continue to just get out there and do that outreach."

VaxConnect volunteers meet individuals who have misconceptions about the vaccine, but also some with language barriers, lack of transportation and internet connectivity issues, Majors said. Those without online access found it challenging to make an appointment when vaccinations first became available earlier this year.

"We wanted to eliminate any barriers that people had but also to provide education with correct information," Majors said.

When talking with the Hispanic population, Mansi hears them repeat the same misconceptions as those in English-speaking homes or communities where other languages are prevalent. Mansi recalled a recent conversation with a Spanish-speaking woman who said she hasn't gotten the vaccine because she's afraid.

"She said she heard you become magnetic or get a third eye," Mansi said. "She said, 'I know it sounds silly but I haven't been able to talk with anyone who knows about this.' So we actually sat down for 30 minutes over the phone. I said, 'Ask me anything and everything, and if I can answer it I will answer it and if not, I will try to find information.' I answered every single question. She said, 'Sign me up, my husband and my kids.' "

While some VaxConnect visits result in no one or only one individual ready to schedule a vaccination, sometimes whole families agree to be vaccinated. One family said they would only do it if all of them could do it together, Mansi said.

Volunteers are passionate about the program despite having to make visits in 90 degree temperatures or rainy conditions.

Curtis E. Holloman, executive director of the Foundation for a Healthy High Point, volunteered with VaxConnect during a recent weekend and described it as a personally rewarding experience.

"I felt like I was doing something of importance to end COVID," said Holloman, who meets weekly with Majors and Vann to keep VaxConnect moving forward.

Although it's early in the VaxConnect program, census tract data indicate an uptick in vaccinations compared to areas with no outreach, Holloman said.

cingram@hpenews.com — 336-888-3534 — @HPEcinde