Mobile clinic rolls out vaccines to improve access for kids 5-11

Around 70,000 children in NC ages 5 to 11 have gotten their first COVID-19 shot, but concern is growing for children with less access, who could fall behind.

Posted 11:15 p.m. Nov 16, 2021 — Updated 11:41 p.m. Nov 16, 2021

Lora Lavigne

, WRAL Durham reporter

DURHAM, N.C. — Around 70,000 children in NC ages 5 to 11 have gotten their first COVID-19 shot. But with vaccine rollouts moving right along, concern is growing for children with less access, who could fall behind.

While roughly 8% of this age group has gotten a vaccine, state health data shows less than 3% of children of color in this age group have received a vaccine so far.

Mobile units in Durham are working to address inequitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

A re-purposed bus has transformed into a vaccine clinic that travels around the state. Volunteers have administered more than 6,000 shots in the past nine months. For children ages 5-11, the work is just beginning.

“I started [driving buses] in 1974,” said Beverly Perry who has been a bus driver for over four decades. “I love transportation."

During the the peak of the vaccine rollout, he got an unusual request. He was asked to drive a mobile vaccine unit.

He’s been on the road for months now with WAR4LIFE, a non-profit organization that’s been bringing vaccines directly to underserved communities.

“As long as I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living shall not be in vain,” Perry said.

Health equity became a top priority during the pandemic.

“We’re looking at developing the whole community and creating a space where people can be whole and we can help them advance,” said Jason Williams, executive director of WAR4LIFE.

Coordinating efforts to reach the younger population presents the same challenges as before.

“We understand that there are folks in our community that have challenges in terms of transportation. Challenges in terms of childcare. Challenges in terms of even having relationships with a primary care provider for their young people or for themselves,” said Donald Hughes, director of community voice for the Foundation of Health Leadership and Innovation.

Hughes says they have to address health inequity by taking action to remove barriers to proper health care.

To help meet those challenges, the group has partnered with Chapel Hill Pediatrics and Durham Public Schools to meet students where they are.

“We’ve been able to reach out to public school systems, local municipalities, other groups on the ground. And as a father, I think it’s important to get these kids vaccinated,” said Williams.

Durham Public Schools has two upcoming vaccine clinics planned: