The Manager's report back on the feasibility of retrofitting existing vehicles or renting vehicles to create a mobile vaccine clinic program

In addition to fixed locations at the CambridgeSide Mall and the Reservoir Church at 170 Rindge Avenue, the CPC has vaccinated people at homeless shelters and elderly/public housing buildings throughout the city. The CPC also made home visits to vaccinate 104 residents who met the state’s criteria for homebound vaccination.

Prior to May, vaccine supply allocated to Massachusetts local health departments was severely restricted and the CPC was only able to vaccinate special populations designated by the state. In February, CPHD requested a larger quantity of vaccine to offer to adult residents of senior public housing sites given that this population is at greater risk for illness and death due to COVID-19. These individuals were vaccinated via mobile door-to-door efforts, and upwards of 70% of residents of some buildings were vaccinated through these efforts.

In early April, the state supplied CPHD with 3,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine and the department quickly organized clinics in North Cambridge where the number of cases has been routinely high. A total of 515 people were vaccinated. The clinics, which were interrupted by the pause in the use of the J&J vaccine, resumed on April 29, with additional clinics at Reservoir Church and CambridgeSide on May 1, 5, 6, and 7. The May clinics were widely publicized and open to all residents age 18 and older.

The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is firm in its belief that the City has so far been highly successful in its efforts to raise awareness about the vaccine and reduce access barriers among people of color, residents with low income, and other vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, immigrants). The City’s vaccine communications strategy has included a number of community forums where doctors and nurses from the Clinicians’ Speakers Bureau (developed and managed by CPHD) join with local leaders to discuss the safety and efficacy of 2

the vaccine as well as answer any questions and concerns from residents, especially those who are more hesitant to receive the vaccine. CPHDs forums have focused on communities of color, immigrant populations, early childhood educators, seniors, and other groups.

Additional communications to vulnerable communities has been ongoing, including: 1) by the Cambridge Community Corps (C3) who have gone door-to-door in key highly impacted neighborhoods (North Cambridge, East Cambridge, the Port, and Wellington-Harrington) as well as in low-income senior housing; 2) via key community organizations such as the Black Pastor’s Association, the Islamic Society of Boston, Men of Color Task Force, Literacy Ambassadors, and Community Engagement Team; and 3) robust social media outreach; and 4) disseminating information in many languages.

When looking at the demographics of all Cambridge residents who have been vaccinated at any site, the City is outpacing the state in reaching people of color, as the data below indicate:

Race/Ethnicity

Cambridge

State Asian

49%

48% Black

49%

34% Hispanic/Latinx

43%

30% Multiracial

48%

58% (As of April 27, 2021, the most recent state data available as of this writing.)

On May 3, Governor Baker announced that the state would be shifting vaccines to smaller scale operations focusing on certain populations and specific communities. As of the week of May 10- 14, the Metro North Vaccine Collaborative will be fully operational, with sites in Somerville (near Target), Medford (Tufts), and Everett (Encore Casino). Additionally, there are now 10 pharmacy locations in Cambridge that are administering the COVID-19 vaccine.

CPHD expects that as local vaccine supply increases and there is greater clarity about groups or demographics that are vaccine hesitant (based on information from city/community partners and data from the state’s weekly municipal report), the City and CPHD will continue to organize targeted vaccine outreach efforts.

RECOMMENDATION

Given that the City, the health department, the Cambridge Pandemic Collaborative, and local nonprofits have so far been highly successful in their outreach and vaccination efforts in underserved communities and that local access to the vaccines has increased, CPHD recommends “staying the course” with the current strategies that focus on local and regional vaccination clinics, as well as micro-targeted outreach and communications.

For the reasons outlined above, the City is not recommending retrofitting existing municipal vehicles or renting/purchasing additional vehicles be added to the mobile vaccine clinic program.