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| The Medical Spanish Interest Group hosts a vaccine clinic for members of the Spanish-speaking community in Mobile. |
Led by a desire to save lives and prevent the spread of diseases, USA College of Medicine students fanned out in the community as the fall semester started, posting flyers in grocery stores and diners, calling residents on the phone, and talking to people where they live and work to let them know about vaccine clinics where Spanish-speaking providers would be present.
Their efforts to alleviate vaccine hesitancy among members of the Spanish-speaking community seem to be working. More than 60 people received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during two recent events led by members of the College of Medicine’s Medical Spanish Interest Group (MSIG).
“This was a unique opportunity to have Spanish-speaking providers present for the vaccinations,” said Elizabeth Hernandez, president of the MSIG. “I think it was comforting for those who attended to have their concerns and questions addressed in their language.”
Another vaccine clinic planned by the student group and staffed by Spanish-speaking providers is scheduled for Oct. 23 at Overlook Presbyterian Church, 5311 Overlook Road, in Mobile.
The previous vaccination events, on Sept. 11 and Oct. 2, were held at the Mobile County Public School English Second Language Welcome Center on Azalea Road. Members of the USA Health Pandemic Response Team assisted with preparing the vaccine for injection and administering the shots. To date, more than 95,000 doses of the vaccine have been provided by USA Health.
The students also partnered with Mobile County Public Schools and BELONG, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing aid and resources to refugees and immigrants in the Mobile area.
Spanish-speaking providers including medical students, pediatric residents and faculty members Eduardo Calderon, M.D., the group’s advisor, and physicians Benjamin Estrada, M.D., Karen Parsell, M.D., and Haidee Custodio, M.D., assisted at the vaccine clinics. The USA Center for Health Communities donated educational flyers to the student group.
