everyone has a right to ask these questions.
We were one of the very first places that opened its doors to the public, we were not going to keep this just for us, just for our patients. Of course, we did all these initiatives with the churches, we worked with the governor’ s“ A Shot of Faith” campaign. So being able to work with Black churches, with churches throughout the community to get folks back. That was a huge part of the strategy.
I really pray that we are the teaching hospital for Charles Drew University. There’ s this beautiful partnership, in addition to this marriage that existed between Kedren and the Department of Public Health, very early on, there was this marriage between Kedren vaccines and the University through President Carlisle and Provost Michael; through Dean Prothrow-Stith and Dr. Vargas. We’ ve been on this journey together very, very early on. That was critical.
They are the think tank, in many ways that policy incubator. We were that test kitchen, we were really that laboratory that could actually go and explore some of these new delivery models or recommendations, and try this and really with that live, work, worship play school and home bound initiative. We vaccinated many Drew volunteers including employees, staff, faculty and students.
We vaccinated many Drew volunteers including employees, staff, faculty and students.
And then we had to say definitively that this is not an experiment on our people. The National Medical Association was involved in independently reviewing the data that our Black and Brown people were in the clinical trials, that, you know, these vaccines were safe, effective, free, and are for everyone who are eligible. And really having that clear messaging, going out into the radio waves, KJLH; TV, internet, print media was so critical partnering with Black media, trusted Black elected officials, church leaders and educators.
It was such an important coalition because maybe you didn’ t need to hear it just from your doctor or nurse, maybe you needed to hear it from your pastor, or priest, or maybe you needed to hear it from your teacher, coach or your political leader. It was that coalition that really helped us go a long way.
We also think that there are there are lots of really important reasons for why you see differing rates in East and Southeast Asia where they have a different history with communicable diseases, infectious diseases, like SARS, and all types of bird flu. They don’ t wait, they don’ t hesitate. And just like they did in Los Angeles, they literally got on church buses with Korean and Vietnamese interpreters, and came to wherever they could to get vaccines, because they were not going to play and gamble with their life, when they’ ve seen what the detriment of a pandemic can do in their regions where as soon as there was a treatment or vaccine available, they would get it and that’ s how they treated this here, even if they were living in Los Angeles. We saw much higher rates in the Asian American communities accessing vaccines.
It is absolutely critical that you remove the traditional four walls of health care clinics and hospitals, and take health care and public health advocacy to where people are. I hope that’ s our long-lasting legacy. We have laid down a public health infrastructure, created this revolution, revolutionized healthcare delivery system and models; and we believe that we need to continue to build, maintain, and sustain this effort. We’ ve learned too much in the last 15 to 20 months.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 19