The Wichita Black Nurses Association now has a medical van to use for bringing vaccination against COVID-19 and boosters that better protect against variants to the original coronavirus into the community at convenient locations.
The van provided by Grace Med is driven by volunteers from the Wichita Fire Department. The Black Nurses Association supplies the nurses to administer the shots.
“We began this service to try to help our community,” said Maggie Thompson, a team leader and manager for the vaccination effort. “Statistics show that Black and Brown people have a lower percentage of vaccinated people and a higher risk of complications if they get the disease.”
The current shot is the bivalent vaccine developed after the Omicron variant emerged. It offers added protection against new variants of the virus.
Thompson said those who receive a vaccine are monitored for 15 minutes. Since firemen are trained EMTs and the nurses are on site, any adverse reactions can be quickly addressed.
Reactions for COVID vaccines are very rare, but some allergic reactions have been reported.
The vaccine van will be at the following Wichita locations:
-Sat., March 25, noon to 3 p.m. at Chisholm Trail Church of Christ, 5833 E. 37th St. N.
-Sat., April 22, noon to 3 p.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Church, 3000 E,. 13th St. from 12 p.m., to Sat.,
-April 29, noon to 3 p.m. at Paradise Baptist Church, 4401 E., 17th St. N.
Thompson said the nurses hope to add vaccinations against pneumonia, shingles and influenza to the program.
Watch the Community Voice calendar for future times and places for the vaccine van.