Community leaders and health providers are stepping up in an effort to ensure that vulnerable residents aren’t left out of COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly in hard-hit communities of color.

In partnership with UC Davis Health and Vice Mayor Jay Schenirer, City Church and the Community Wellness Forum will host a COVID vaccine clinic for the Oak Park community from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays starting March 12. Vaccinations initially will be for those 65 and older and by appointment only. The church is at 3860 Fourth Ave. For more information, or to make an appointment, call (916) 349-6980.

District 8 City Councilmember Mai Vang has partnered with several community organizations, including the Greater Sacramento NAACP and LaFamilia, to hold a pop-up clinic on Friday, March 12, at the Sam and Bonnie Pannell Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road. The event can facilitate 1,000 vaccinations and will serve individuals in the 1b tier, including seniors 65 and older, health care workers, people living in skilled nursing facilities, the homeless and essential workers. Each community group has an allotment of vaccination slots. Appointments are being made through the groups. To register through the NAACP, call (916) 750-5625.

In Del Paso Heights, the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation, Dr. Kawanaa Carter and other community partners are offering the vaccine from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at Grant High School, 1400 Grand Ave.  Drive-through and walk-ups are available for residents in 95838 or 95815 ZIP codes. For more information or to register for an appointment, call (916) 520-4626 or email DPHVaccine@gmail.com.

Other local vaccination sites include Sacramento State for members of the campus community and, on a limited basis, for seniors over the age of 65. Seniors not affiliated with the university can make an appointment through Sacramento County at dhs.saccounty.net. 

To aid in the community being vaccinated, Sacramento Regional Transit District is providing free transportation to appointments. To ride free, show a COVID-19 vaccine appointment confirmation in the form of an email, text or vaccine card, which will serve as valid fare only on the date noted in the appointment confirmation. Free rides are available on fixed-route buses, light rail, Folsom Stage Line, SmaRT Ride, and SacRT GO services. 

The ridesharing service Lyft also offers free or discounted rides to vaccination appointments. They’ve joined partners such as Anthem, JPMorgan Chase, the NAACP and the United Way to provide 60 million rides to and from vaccine appointments nationwide, through “Vroom to the Vaccine.” For more information, visit Lyft.com. 

Sacramento County vaccination eligibility widens March 15 to include individuals age 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell, certain heart conditions, and Type 2 diabetes.For more information, visit dhs.saccounty.net, covid19.ca.gov, or bit.ly/COVIDvax65plus, or call (833) 422-4255.

By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer