'Enough doses, just not enough arms:' Triangle clinic has extra vaccine doses, but language barrier creates hesitancy

Millions of people across the world have been vaccinated against COVID, but many more are still on waiting lists. One doctor in the Triangle, however, says she's having trouble getting people vaccinated – especially in communities with a language barrier.

When vaccines first became available, Dr. Marva Price, a nurse practitioner, made it her mission to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

A month ago she started volunteering with Alignment Health.

"There are enough doses, just not enough arms," she said.

She's concerned people who don't speak English as a first language don't fully understand how the vaccination system works. Low-income families may not have easy access to a computer to schedule an appointment, or they may lack a vehicle to travel to get a vaccine.

Coronavirus vaccine distribution, distrust and misconceptions

Dr. Price reached out to Minister Rosie Caldwell, who works at the Rodgers Road Community Center in Chapel Hill, to see if anyone in the area needed a vaccine.

The area is mostly made of Hispanic, African American and Asian community members.

Caldwell began going door-to-door letting people know vaccines were available – but she had no luck.

“In this community alone I’ve gotten one yes out of about 50 homes right here,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell is concerned the information is not being explained in a way people can understand – or by someone they feel they can trust.

Vaccine hesitancy among health care workers raises concerns

“When you take them out of their community, they're almost lost," said Caldwell. "You try to give them directions, but there is a language barrier. They can't understand whether to go right or left, then they get frustrated because they're confused."

She says the clinics that are available are too far away, or people just don’t have the privilege of calling off work just to get vaccinated.

“From here to PNC arena – that’s like 33 miles," she said. "Some of these people don’t have transportation to get to PNC Arena. We have to put these vaccination clinics where people in this diverse community have access."

Dr. Price said they are working on hopefully having a clinic at the Rodgers Road Community Center to reach community members in the area, but nothing is set in stone.