Archive for April 2021

During the pandemic, the group pivoted to focusing on weekly food distributions, rent support, mental health education and now, registering people for vaccine appointments through the community health center, Neighborhood Health.

One of the keys to getting people in the door to get vaccinated has been enlisting local faith leaders, Khan said. He has reached out to clergy in Fairfax and Arlington counties and marveled at their response. Some religious leaders have opened their houses of worship as additional clinics for COVID-19 vaccinations or acted as go-betweens, referring people who have had limited opportunities to get COVID-19 shots in their arms.

April is National Minority Health Month, and this year the national focus is on the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on racial and ethnic minorities. At Neighborhood Health — located in northern Virginia and serving residents of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County — our goal from the outset has been vaccine equity.

Neighborhood Health, a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves a predominately low-income and uninsured patient population in Northern Virginia today welcomed President Joe Biden to one of its COVID-19 vaccination sites located in in the Virginia Theological Seminary’s Immanuel Chapel. President Biden toured the clinic and spoke with staff, patients as well as members of the faith community that have partnered with Neighborhood Health in its efforts to increase equity in the vaccine rollout.