Aurora takes to the streets to provide residents with vaccines
AURORA, Ill. - As the pace of vaccinations continues to slow, communities and health organizations are coming up with creative ways to put more shots in more arms.
The city of Aurora is partnering with a local health organization to bring COVID-19 vaccines into the community.
It’s an effort to boost vaccination rates in pockets where they still lag behind the state average.
On Monday, a huge RV rolled into a parking lot at McCleary school in Aurora. It’s part of an ongoing effort to take vaccinations to the streets.
"It’s about accessibility and convenience," said Clayton Muhammad, a spokesman for the City of Aurora. "We’re taking the vaccines right to the heart of the community, the specific neighborhoods."
With vaccination centers slowing over the past couple months, VNA Health Care is partnering with the City of Aurora to bring its mobile vaccination clinic to 10 locations in July and August. Those locations include flea markets, grocery stores, schools, churches and apartment complexes.
There’s no charge and no appointment needed.
"In this time where we’re seeing more activity with variants, the Delta variant, certainly more important than ever that we keep on our efforts to get it to everyone who wants to get one," said BNA Health Care CEO Linnea Windel.
Among those walking up today was an Aurora West High School student who wants to play soccer unencumbered.
"In school when you want to play soccer they say you have to wear a mask," said student Hussein Hussein. "If you get the COVID vaccine you can just go without your mask."
Paola Magana says she decided at the last minute to get a vaccination shot.
"I have been thinking about it for a while," said Magana. "I just hadn’t scheduled anything with my doctor or scheduled anything at the pharmacy. And when I saw the post on social media about them being here today, it’s not far from work so I just decided to stop by."
And while Illinois has one of the better vaccination rates in the country, there are pockets of the Aurora area falling behind.
"We’re just trying to meet everyone where they’re at and make them as comfortable as possible," said Muhammad.