Despite challenges, smaller COVID-19 clinics find success administering vaccines

Organizers of smaller vaccination clinics say that, while they're able to reach a different demographic, it's not without challenges.

Dr. Adam Wolk, with Alignment Health Care, has organized almost 50 clinics.

"Today, I was in six of them. Two in the morning [and] four in the afternoon," said Wolk.

When it comes to getting people vaccinated, it takes a village of nurses, volunteers and lots of planning.

Location, volunteer and logistics coordination can create challenges.

“Some of the smaller clinics just don’t have that support," said Wolk. "I’d love to have the National Guard. Everybody is stretched."

Translation, personal contact underpin efforts to get COVID-19 vaccine to Durham's immigrant communities

Wolk said reaching people is the biggest challenge, but language barriers and lack of technology to sign up for a vaccine also create issues.

“Also, for the seniors, cognitive impairment [is] one of the biggest barriers," he said. "One of the reasons why we’re having such trouble as a nation are these historic barriers."

But, there are also advantages for the smaller clinics. Wolk said there’s still a lot of hesitancy among the Latino and African American communities, and smaller clinics provide a more trusting environment.

“Tonight, for example, there are different groups coming: a group of painters and groups who do all sorts of stuff. I think that helps make them more comfortable," said Wolk.

Wolk said he's hoping to organize more clinics, especially now that people with health conditions are eligible. He added that he's been allocated an extra 900 doses of the vaccine and is hoping to find bigger spaces to accommodate more people.