From the Desk of Wendy Young, Executive Director

This year is a blur of activity and excitement. We experience a range of emotions every day! This morning we had a 17-year-old girl and her mother in line to receive her Pfizer vaccine. She was obviously in distress and quite tearful as they were checking in. I pulled them out of line to see if I could calm her fears, while trying not to cry with her. During our conversation, I discovered that Mom had an appointment for the next week at a local drug store. We registered her so they could be vaccinated together, creating a visible sign of relief for both ladies. One of our volunteer physicians, Dr. Steve Olson, a retired KP physician, acknowledged her fears and vaccinated both in a quiet, private space. They left the clinic grateful for the very personal service provided by the SCMA clinic. Side note, now this young lady has agreed to volunteer in our clinic to help other young residents who are fearful!

Another story from the clinic shares how the community works together in service. The County of Sonoma contacted us asking for assistance with three facility bound patients. Rachel, called and registered them in advance, advising them to call when they were onsite. They arrived in mobile transports from a local long-term care facility. Dr. Olson, vaccine syringes in hand, and Rachel for documenting the activity, went out the back door of the clinic, hopped up into the transport, vaccinated our guests, observed them for the appropriate amount of time ready to administer adverse response assistance, scheduled their second visit and sent them on their way. We get calls like this all the time and try to be flexible in our services knowing that one size does not fit all.

Solo/small practice physicians: You many be aware of the roadblocks and challenges of signing up to receive vaccines in office to vaccinate your patients. I have heard that many have given up on the idea all together. I know how important it is to help your patients get vaccinated. I want to offer SCMA's vaccine clinic as an option to provide care to your patients. You can pick a clinic date(s), we'll provide you with a link for your team to register your patients. Then you and your team can spend the day(s) with us vaccinating your patients. We do the admin and submit to the state database, you can do the vaccinating. Your patients will be comforted knowing their personal physician is still taking care of them. Call SCMA at 707-525-4375 if you are interested in scheduling with us. We would be happy to help you provide this personal service to your patients.

I am happy to see Sonoma County is in a tier that allows us to gather a bit more. Keep talking to your patients, colleagues, family and friends to help reduce vaccine hesitancy. Please encourage second doses! There seems to be some additional hesitancy around getting that second shot. Listen to us give KZST radio DJ Mike Adams his second vaccine dose live on the air Friday, May 7 during the 4:00 p.m. hour. Soon we can gather, until then, call us if we can be of assistance to you!

707-620-0808 | exec@scma.org