HAZLETON, Pa. — A vaccine clinic at the Hazleton One Community Center was made possible through a collaboration between the PA Department of Health, Latino Connection, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Sheild, and Lehigh Valley Health Network.
"So they approached us and the Hazleton Integration Project about six to eight weeks ago, with an opportunity," said Dr. Jodi Lenko, Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton
"Yes, it's important because people need to be vaccinated because that's the only way that we know until now to stop the virus," said Rossanna Gabriel of the Hazleton Integration Project.
The clinic was delayed because of vaccine supply, but doctors say it was very important to make it happen to serve the community here that is especially vulnerable.
"And unfortunately Hazleton was not unique in this, the Latino population and the African American population across the country were indeed hit harder with COVID, whether that is due to socioeconomic factors, lack of access to health care, And then also potentially language barriers they were all part of it," explained Dr. Lenko.
Organizers say it was important for them to set up this vaccination clinic at a place like the Hazleton One Community Center because it's accessible and trusted.
"So it's important here in this center because any community that maybe is afraid to go to the hospital or another place that they don't know," said Gabriel."So here we have parents, students, in a community around that came for the vaccine because they usually came here to the building, so today was easy for them to arrive here."
"It's a well-utilized resource for the kids for families, and they do they trust it. We're gaining the trust of the community as well, and hopefully partnering with Lehigh Valley has helped them understand that we're here to help the community," added Dr. Lenko.
Thirty doses of the Moderna vaccine were given; patients will return back on June 11 for their second shot.