Hundreds of Children and Community Members to Receive Immunizations, Vaccines, and School Supplies During this Year’s 2021 National Health Center Week
For the parents and children in South LA, National Health Center Week marks the end of summer vacation and the start of the new school year. For more than 40 years, South Central Family Health Center (SCFHC) has hosted a National Health Center Week celebration at its medical campus on the corner of Vernon and Central Avenues. The national event, celebrating the essential role that community health centers play in traditionally underserved communities, is a bustling affair with medical, dental, and vision care screenings for adults and activities for children. In 2021, SCFHC is focusing on the most important work it can do during the pandemic; it is focusing on providing students with all the vaccines they need to go back to school. For students 12 and older, that includes administering the COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 500 students and community members will visit SCFHC during NHCW receiving required immunizations so they can return to school. With many parents concerned about the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, students 12 and older will receive Pfizer vaccines at zero cost to the families to keep their children safer while returning to in-person education.
According to Dr. Jose L. Perez, Chief Medical Officer at SCFHC, “For decades, public schools have required that our children have all their vaccines before they return to school to ensure their protection from life threatening diseases.” Dr. Perez added, “I strongly recommend that parents add COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of vaccines their children need to stay healthy, especially as Delta variant can impact youth.”
SCFHC invited several of their community partners to share resources and materials during NHCW. One of those partners, L.A. Care Health Plan, made a financial contribution that will offset the costs of purchasing backpacks and school supplies for the clinic’s students.
“South Central Family Health Center shares a mission with L.A. Care of addressing the health care needs of vulnerable populations who are marginalized and underserved, and we have seen these populations in South Los Angeles suffer disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said John Baackles, L.A. Care CEO. “L.A. Care is proud to support SCFHC’s National Health Center Week event as they expand medical and specialty services and strive to strengthen their community.”
NHCW enhances SCFHC’s role in the community as the “one-stop shop” for healthcare services. Their network of ten clinical sites across South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles County already provide primary medical, dental, vision, and chiropractic care. SCFHC pays close care and attention in hiring culturally authentic medical providers and support staff, the majority of whom reside in the communities it serves.
To make an appointment for a student to receive their vaccines, please contact SCFHC at (323) 908-4200.
