Iowas COVID-19 positivity rates continue to climb – KCCI Des Moines

THE LARGEST VACCINATION CLINIC IN THE METRO TODAY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. BROADLAWNS MEDICAL CENTER AND UNITED WAY PUT ON THE EVENT AT CORINTHIAN BAPTIST CHURCH. KCCI’S ANDREW MOLLENBECK REPORTS THE CLINIC TOOK AIM AT DISPARITIES. >> THIS CLINIC HAS DOSES FOR MORE THAN 1100 PEOPLE. BUT THE EVENT GOES BEYOND VACCINATIONS. FAITH LEADERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A PARTNERSHIP. PASTOR JONATHAN WHITFIELD WORKED THE PHONES AND SPOKE TO GATHERINGS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR A SHOT. THE CHURCH SHOULD BE ABOUT THE WHOLE BEING, ABOUT THE PERSON. >> SO AS A PASTOR, I’M OVERWHELMED. I’M SO PLEASED AND HAPPY THAT NOT ONLY DID WE PUT THE OFFERING OUT THERE, BUT PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED. >> HAVING THE CLINIC AT THE CHURCH MADE THE VACCINE AVAILABLE CLOSE TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE LAGGED BEHIND IN GETTING VACCINATED. JANICE MCQUARRY SAYS SHE HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN OPENING OTHER PLACES. >> ONCE I GET MY SECOND VACCINE, I’LL BE ABLE TO VISIT WITH MY FAMILY, MY GRANDCHILDREN, MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. YES, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. >> GOV. KIM REYNOLDS AND U.S. AG SECRETARY TOM VILSACK WERE AMONG ELECTED LEADERS CHEERING ON THOSE GETTING VACCINATED. REYNOLDS SAYS EVENT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISOLATED CASE. >> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND NOT STOP WITH THE VACCINES BUT TO ACTUALLY PLAY IT FORWARD AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THAT WE’RE HELPING THEM CONNECT THE DOTS AND GET THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY LIFE. >> FOR WHITFIELD, THE CLINIC WAS A BIG MORALE BOOST. >> EVERYBODY’S BEEN WALKING OUT OF HERE HAPPY, EXCITED AND ENTHUSED BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY’RE FEELING. IT IS AN ATMOSPHERE GOING ON HERE. YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU’RE AT THE FAIR. EVERYBODY IS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING HEALTHY, AND THE HEALTHIER WE GET, THE BETTER WE GET TO LIVE.