The HeroZona Foundation and Equality Health Foundation began distributing vaccines to community members in west Phoenix on Saturday.
Tomás León, Equality Health Foundation interim CEO, says opening sites in underserved communities helps remove some stigmas associated with the vaccine.
“The volunteers, and the vaccinators, and the COVID testers reflect the communities that we serve, they look like the community they serve, so that creates a bridge of trust, and we have people who are bilingual as well,” said León.
León says the location was chosen to try to bring vaccines to areas struggling with COVID-19.
“The whole idea is to remove the barriers and create multiple access points for communities on the south side and the west side, who have been hit the hardest by this pandemic,” said León.
Equality Health Foundation plans to keep vaccinating in west Phoenix, as well as trying to expand testing and vaccination efforts throughout the city.
