Vaccine Strike Team

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

During the height of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, large drive-thru PODS (Point-of-Dispensing) were the primary administration source. What if you didn’t have a car or a computer to schedule an appointment? What about those that lacked easy access to a POD due to geography or mobility issues? It became apparent the number of barriers facing our community. Maricopa County Department of Public Health addressed these vaccine disparity issues by establishing a vaccine strike team to break down barriers and build bridges within our diverse community. Instead of the community coming to us, we went to them. The MCDPH Strike Team's first mission was providing vaccines to one of our most vulnerable populations, long-term care residents and staff. The MCDPH Strike Team served many missions including assisting homebound individuals, refugees, various communities, and more. Today, the Strike Team is more than just a temporary solution created for COVID-19 vaccine administration. They created a foundation within Public Health to provide not only COVID-19 and flu but also adult and childhood vaccines. COVID-19 opened the door for many strike teams to form throughout the United States, but how many have evolved past COVID-19?