Heart to Heart International has received a small supply of vaccines from the state of Missouri and one additional healthcare entity. We have been given specifications about the target populations for these vaccines and are working with agencies that are supporting low-income, homeless and housing insecure populations in Missouri to coordinate the vaccinations. Currently, we can only vaccinating people that fit into those specifications in Missouri.
Heart to Heart International’s mission is provide health access to people in need. Should we receive more vaccines from other states or healthcare entities, we will work with local health authorities and make an announcement regarding our vaccine eligibility based on state tiers and designations.
COVID-19 Vaccines
March 3, 2021
Heart to Heart International has been approved as a COVID-19 vaccine provider in Missouri and Kansas and just this week got its first supply of 500 vaccines with more doses on the way. The first supply includes both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
HHI’s goal is to provide vaccines to individuals who face obstacles to vaccination due to communication/language issues, technology challenges, transportation challenges, or other limitations from living situations or economic constraints. HHI will also be providing vaccines to persons experiencing homelessness and individuals in low-income senior housing.
HHI’s plan includes using its mobile vaccine capabilities to provide vaccine clinics throughout Kansas City to apartment buildings, shelters, churches and more.
HHI vaccination teams have been in preparation mode for the past several weeks planning with partner organizations, including the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness and Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus. In addition to solving logistical issues such as how to give the shot, keep it cold and report it to the state, the teams worked on plans to make the homeless populations aware of the vaccine and get them transported to the location and back for their second dose, if necessary.
HHI is also working with several counties in Missouri to vaccinate the senior citizens residing in independent apartments. The first will be at Booth Manor, a low-income senior housing complex operated by the Salvation Army in Grandview, Missouri. Because members of this community often don’t have access to technology and transportation, the health department has asked HHI to bring the vaccine to the apartment complexes and vaccinate on site.
HHI volunteers have been able to help with scheduling vaccines for older adults. In Platte County, Missouri, HHI volunteers called, registered and scheduled hundreds of older adults for their COVID-19 vaccine who were otherwise unable to use the internet to schedule their appointments.
It is a priority to work with partners in the Greater Kansas City area to provide vaccines stored in the HHI cold storage units to the hard-to-reach populations throughout the city.
COVID-19 Testing
HHI is still conducting COVID-19 testing in the KC metro and now has expanded its testing efforts outside of Kansas City. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) donated 15 BD Veritor™ Plus analyzers and 4500 COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, which are being used in laboratories in free clinics supported by HHI across the United States. The testing program intends to provide communities with fast, less invasive and convenient COVID-19 tests, especially for those who are under-tested and socially vulnerable.
