>>> EIGHT MINUTES MAX WORTH OF
PUBLIC, ASSUMING NOBODY ASSIGNS
UP ONCE WE CONVENE.
AFTER THAT WE WILL DIG INTO THE
FIRST PANEL WHICH IS THE
COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE PANEL AND
WE WILL HEAR FROM GOVERNMENT
NURSE IN THE SECOND PANEL.
CONVERSATION.
THAT WILL ROUND US OUT FOR THE
VACCINE EQUITY CONVERSATION AND
AT THAT POINT ALL OF YOU WHO
ARE HERE FOR THOSE TWO PANELS
ARE WELCOME TO SAY GOODBYE, FOR
THOSE ON THE COMMUNITY PANEL
THAT NEED TO GO AFTER THE FIRST
PANEL, YOU ARE WELCOME TO LOG
OFF OR PERMISSION TO STAY ON.
THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE FOR
BEING HERE AND THANKS TO ALL OF
THE COUNCILMEMBERS NOT MEMBERS
OF THIS COMMITTEE JOINING US
TODAY TOO. WITHOUT FURTHER
ADIEU, FOLKS ARE READY AND
DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, WE CAN
GET STARTED.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE ARE SOLID AND
READY TO GO.
LET'S GET THE MEETING STARTED.
THANK YOU, SEATTLE CHANNEL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING, THE
FEBRUARY 9, 2021 MEETING WILL
COME TO ORDER.
I'M LORENA GONZALEZ.
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD ?
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> HERE, I'M HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER STRAUSS,
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
>> SEVEN PRESENT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY QUICKLY, COLLEAGUES AND
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING ME TODAY AND THIS
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION ABOUT
VACCINE EQUITY.
WE WILL HEAR FROM REGIONAL
PARTNER
>> UNITY HEALTH EXPERTS AND
IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON
THE ISSUE OF COVID-19 VACCINE
EQUITY AND DISTRIBUTION AND
ISSUES.
BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION WE ARE ABOUT TO
HAVE IN THIS COMMITTEE MEETING,
I AM UTILIZING COUNCIL ROLES
AND INVITED ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL
NOT MEMBERS OF GOVERNANCE AND
EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO JOIN US
TO ENGAGE IN THIS IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION THAT IMPACTS EVERY
INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
HUGE THANK YOU AND HEARTY
WELCOME TO EACH OF YOU FOR
JOINING US TODAY IN THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
TODAY WE HAVE THREE ITEMS FOR
DISCUSSION, AGENDA ITEMS ONE
AND TWO ARE ABOUT COVID-19
VACCINES.
FIRST, WE HEAR FROM A PANEL OF
COMMUNITY HEALTH EXPERTS AND
VACCINE EXPERTS ON EQUITY HERE
TO SHARE EXPERTISE ON THE
ROLLOUT AND ONGOING CHALLENGES
THAT AFFECT VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITIES IN
PARTICULAR.
WE WILL HAVE A ROUNDTABLE OF
REPRESENTATIVES FROM FEDERAL,
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO
RESPOND TO EQUITY CONCERNS AND
SHARE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
COLLABORATIVE ACTION AND
SOLUTIONS FOR EQUITABLE VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AND ACCESS.
OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM ALTHOUGH
UNRELATED TO VACCINE EQUITY IS
RELATED TO OUR PANDEMIC RELIEF
RESPONSE FOR OUR IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE NEIGHBORS.
THE DIRECTOR FROM OUR OFFICE OF
IMMIGRANT REFUGEE AFFAIRS WILL
JOIN US WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF
HER TEAM TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW
OF THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE
AFFAIRS, HARD WORK AND ENSURING
REFUGEE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE
NOT LEFT BEHIND RECEIVING
CRUCIAL INFORMATION TO STAY
HEALTHY AND SAFE DURING THE
PANDEMIC NORBY SHUTOUT OF THE
CITY EFFORTS AND DISASTER RELIEF
, I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA
IS HERE WITH US TODAY, A
SPECIAL THANKS TO HURT TO
INCLUDE THIS IN THE PART OF
FUNDING JUMPSTART SEATTLE
PAYROLL TAX ORDINANCE AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM
THE GOOD WORK THEY ARE ABLE TO
DO.
TODAY'S CONVERSATION WILL FOCUS
HEAVILY ON THE EXPERIENCES,
BARRIERS, AND DISPARITIES BLACK
INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
ARE EXPERIENCING WITH VACCINE
ROLLOUT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE OF
THE KEY FACTORS FUELING THE
PERSPECTIVES WE ARE ABOUT TO
HEAR IS THE UNPREDICTABLE AND
SCARCE SUPPLY OF VACCINES.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE SCARCITY
DURING COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND I
WANT TO KNOWLEDGE ACCESSING THE
VACCINE IS A CHALLENGE FOR
EVERY COMMUNITY BUT BY FOCUSING
ON THOSE WITH THE MOST BARRIERS
TO ACCESS VACCINATIONS IT WILL
ENSURE WE HAVE A MORE EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
KEY PLAYERS ALONG WITH MANY
OTHERS INCLUDING THOSE OF YOU
IN THIS MEETING TODAY HELPING
US MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR
COMMUNITY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FOR EXAMPLE, PROVIDES DAILY
SNAPSHOT OF COVID-19 STATISTICS
AND AS A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5th
WE KNOW THERE ARE 78,062
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID IN
KING COUNTY.
WE HAVE 1277 CONFIRMED DEATHS IN
KING COUNTY.
WE HAVE 303,961 CONFIRMED CASES
IN WASHINGTON STATE AND 4049
LOST LIVES IN WASHINGTON STATE
TO THIS VIRUS.
IN TERMS OF VACCINE
ADMINISTRATION THROUGH OUR
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT MOBILE
VACCINATION TEAM, WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SENSE JANUARY 14th
VACCINATE 2547 PEOPLE IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
THOSE ARE REALLY HEAVY NUMBERS
BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY ARE NOT
JUST NUMBERS ON A CHART, THESE
ARE PEOPLE'S MOTHERS, FATHERS,
SONS AND DAUGHTERS, AUNTS AND
UNCLES AND COUSINS.
THESE ARE REAL HUMAN LIVES LOST
TO THIS PANDEMIC.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION TO RAMP UP
VACCINE SUPPLIES TO THE STATE,
IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO
LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES AND
CONCERNS WE ARE HEARING RIGHT
NOW, TO LEARN FROM IT AND USE
THIS TIME AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TWEAK VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM SEVEN STATES AND
COMMUNITIES ARE RECEIVING
RELIABLE SUPPLY OF VACCINES, WE
DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT THE HUNGER
GAMES OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND
GET PEOPLE PROTECTED AGAINST
THIS DEADLY DISEASE,
PARTICULARLY THOSE COMMUNITIES
AT MOST RISK OF EXPOSURE AND
DEATH.
AS A COMPLEMENT TO THIS
DISCUSSION AND MEMORIALIZE WHAT
WE WERE IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS,
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING IN
TODAY'S COMMITTEE A DRAFT
RESOLUTION THAT AND LINES OUR
SHARED PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVING
MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES AND
VACCINE DIVISIO IN SEATTLE.
SHOULD RECEIVE A DRAFT OF THAT
RESOLUTION FROM JEFF SENTENCE
EARLIER TODAY OR MAYBE LAST
NIGHT.
THIS RESOLUTION DRAFTED WITH
INPUT FROM MANY OF YOUR
OFFICES, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE,
SEATTLE KING COUNTY BOARD OF
HEALTH AND WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
LOOKING FORWARD TO TODAY'S
CONVERSATION TO FURTHER INFORM
THE FINAL VERSION OF THIS
RESOLUTION WHICH I HOPE TO
INTRODUCE AND HAVE THE FULL
COUNCIL CONSIDERED NEXT TUESDAY
, FEBRUARY 16th DURING OUR FULL
COUNCIL MEETING AT 2:00 P.M.
WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE OUT MY
PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND MOVE
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
AGAIN, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE
ABOUT FOUR INDIVIDUALS SIGNED
UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE
WILL OPEN UP,.
WHILE IT IS NOT REGULAR, THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS THE RIGHT TO
RESERVE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS
AT ANY POINT IF WE DEEM THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR NO
LONGER SUITABLE FOR EFFICIENTLY
CONDUCTING OUR BUSINESS.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS MEETING IS UP TO 20
MINUTES AND EACH SPEAKER HAS
TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL.
I WILL CALL ON THREE SPEAKERS
AT A TIME IN ANY ORDER
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL
WEBSITE , IF FOLKS ARE WATCHING
AND LISTENING AND WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK BUT HAVE NOT REGISTERED,
THERE'S TIME TO DO THAT BUT YOU
MUST DO IT BEFORE I CLOSE THAT
PUBLIC COMMENT YOU CAN GO TO
THE CITY COUNCIL WEBPAGE AT
SEATTLE.GOV/ COUNSEL WORK CLICK
ON THE LINK LISTED ON TODAY'S
AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL YOUR NAME, STAFF
WILL UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND
YOU WILL HEAR A PROMPT YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED.
THAT IS YOUR Q TO PRESS STAR
SIX AND BEGIN SPEAKING.
I WOULD ASK YOU PLEASE START
SPEAKING BY STATING YOUR NAME,
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING AND
AS A REMINDER, YOUR PUBLIC,
SHOULD RELATE TO AN ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU
WILL HEAR A CHIME.
THAT IS NOTICE YOU HAVE 10
SECONDS LEFT OF THE TWO MINUTES
YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
PLEASE LISTEN FOR THE CHIME AND
I WOULD ASK YOU WRAP UP YOUR
COMMENTS ONCE YOU HEAR THE
CHIME SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND
MOVE TO THE NEXT PERSON.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENT, WE ASK YOU
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING, DO SO ON
SEATTLE CHANNEL OR ONE OF THE
LISTENING OPTIONS LISTED ON THE
AGENDA.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD NOW OPEN,
WE BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER
ON THE LIST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR
SIX AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
FIRST UP IS JANICE FOLLOWED BY
JOE. JANICE, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. I'M EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ AND OTHER MEMBERS.
2500 IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
ELDERS IN 14 DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES LIVING IN PUBLIC
HOUSING THROUGHOUT SEATTLE AND
KING COUNTY.
SO FAR, 350 PEOPLE ACCESS
VACCINATION THE CITY HAS A
ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE
ELDERS FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT AGENT DISABILITY
SERVICES DIVISION WHICH ALSO
SERVES THE COUNTY AREA AGENCY
ON AGING.
WE ARE ONE OF OVER A DOZEN
PARTNERS SERVING SEATTLE LOW
INCOME SENIORS.
WHAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING IS
KNOWING WHERE TO ACCESS THE
VACCINE.
WE LACK REAL-TIME INFORMATION
ON WHO STILL HAS THE VACCINE
AND WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT VACCINE
AVAILABILITY, FAILURE TO
CONTACT ELDERS AND EVEN WHEN WE
KNOW ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY,
ACCESS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING.
ONE OF OUR CASE MANAGERS CALLED
THE SWEDISH LINICK 67 TIMES TO
GET THROUGH ONLY ONE TIME.
WHAT IS WORKING HAS BEEN OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH KING COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR AGENCY ON
AGING.
WE WERE GIVEN EARLY ONLINE
ACCESS TO THE MASS VACCINATION
SITES IN KENT AND AUBURN AND IN
THREE DAYS WE SIGNED UP 250
ELDERS FOR APPOINTMENTS,
ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION AND
ALLAYING VACCINE FEARS.
WE BELIEVE IT IS A VALUABLE AND
EFFECTIVE STRATEGY AS LONG AS
COMMITTEE PARTNERS THAT WORK
WITH ELDERS HAVE EARLY ACCESS
TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC PLAY OF
VITAL ROPE HAVING ACCESS
INFORMATION. ONE CASE MANAGER
CONTACTED 80 PEOPLE ON HER
CASELOAD AND ONLY THREE AGREED
TO ATTEND THE VACCINE
APPOINTMENT.
CLIENTS WOULD PREFER ACCESSING
VACCINE INFORMATION THROUGH
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC WHERE
THEY HAVE TRUST AND
RELATIONSHIP HOWEVER, YOU WILL
HEAR FROM THE PANEL THE
SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN INCONSISTENT.
WE ARE EAGER TO PARTNER WITH
THE CITY TO HELP CLINICS OR
OTHERS TO SET UP POP UP VACCINE
CLINICS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE
WILL VIEW THAT TARGET BY
COMMUNITY.
I URGE YOU TO ACT QUICKLY TO
WORK WITH PARTNERS AND OTHER
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP
ELDERS AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO
THE NEXT DATA VACCINE
AVAILABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JANICE.
NEXT UP IS JOE FOLLOWED BY LEE.
>> HELLO.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> OKAY, GOOD.
I HEARD THE COMMENT WE NEED
MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY WORK
PLAN WITH THE LEGISLATION.
I WILL BE BRIEF.
KNOWING THIS MAYOR ELECT FOCUS
IS VERY LOGICAL AND WILL MAKE
EXCELLENT MAYOR OF SEATTLE.
I ENDORSE THE MAYOR AND ASK YOU
LOOK INTO WASHINGTON STATE
HEALTH. HOUSE BILL 1529 TO KEEP
REMOTE AFTER THE PANDEMIC I
WILL KEEP THIS, I WILL TURN THE
MIC TO ANOTHER PERSON.
THANKS.
GREAT MAYOR.
>> THANKS, JOE FOR CALLING IN.
NEXT UP IS LEE FOLLOWED BY
MEGAN.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I'M COMMENTING ABOUT VACCINE
EQUITY, SOCIAL WORK INTERN AT
LOCAL COMMITTEE HEALTH CLINIC
THAT SERVES MAINLY API
POPULATION, ASIAN-PACIFIC
ISLANDER AND AS SECOND
GENERATION NATIVE AMERICAN.
I SEE A LOT OF OLDER PATIENTS
THAT SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN
ENGLISH.
EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THESE
ELDERS FACED ISOLATION.
NOW MANY OF THEM CANNOT SEE
THEIR FAMILIES AT ALL.
THIS MEANS NO ONE TO HELP WITH
GROCERIES OR BOOK THAT VERY
RARE VACCINE APPOINTMENT.
I HEARD COUNTLESS STORIES OF
FEAR LEAVING THE HOUSE BECAUSE
ELDERS ARE SCARED OF GETTING
SICK OR GETTING ATTACKED.
NEW YORK CITY RECENTLY SAW 1900
% INCREASE IN ASIAN HATE CRIMES
IN THE LAST YEAR WHICH IS
UNDENIABLY LINKED TO THE RACIST
RHETORIC AROUND COVID.
NOW THAT THERE IS A VACCINE,
WHY ARE WE LEAVING THE OTHERS
BEHIND? MY WORRY DOES NOT END
WHEN I STEP FOOT OUT OF THE
CLINIC.
OR MIGHT 93-YEAR-OLD
GRANDMOTHER HAS NOT SECURED A
VACCINE APPOINTMENT EITHER.
MY GRANDMOTHER LEFT HOW IT HAS
BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE SHE
LEFT THE HOUSE TO GO TO CHURCH
OR THE GROCERY STORE AND SHE
MIGHT NOT LIVE TO DO EITHER OF
THOSE THINGS AGAIN.
SHE HAS A DARK SENSE OF HUMOR.
I ASKED OUR CITY AND STATE DO
BETTER TO ENSURE ELDERS,
ESPECIALLY BLACK INDIGENOUS AND
ELDERS OF COLOR GET VACCINES,
NOT JUST THOSE WITH THE FASTEST
WI-FI CONNECTION.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY.
AND HAVING COMMUNITY MEMBER
INPUT AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU, LEE FOR CALLING
TODAY.
NEXT UP IS MEGAN.
>> MEGAN, IF YOU ARE WITH US,
YOU HAVE TO HIT STAR SIX SO WE
CAN HEAR YOU.
>> I.T., DO WE STILL HAVE MEGAN
OR DID WE LOSE HER?
>> SHE IS STILL THERE.
>> MEGAN, IF YOU WANT TO TRY
ONE MORE TIME, PRESSING STAR
SIX.
>> SOMETIMES FOLKS HIT POUND
SIX BY ACCIDENT THAT WE ARE
LOOKING FOR THE STAR, STAR SIX.
>> OKAY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE
HAVING SOME ISSUES CONNECTING
AND MEGAN IS MY LAST SPEAKER
ASSIGNMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE MEGAN ONE
MORE CHANCE, STAR SIX SO WE CAN
HEAR YOU.
OKAY.
MEGAN, I'M SORRY, WE ARE NOT
ABLE TO MAKE THIS WORK OUT.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND ME AND
THE FULL COUNCIL YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENT VIA EMAIL AND WE WILL
MAKE SURE IT IS PART OF THE
RECORD.
WE WILL CLOSE OUT THE PERIOD OF
PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND BEGIN ON ITEMS OF BUSINESS
ON OUR AGENDA.
FIRST UP, I WILL ASK THE CLERK
TO PLEASE READ ITEM 1 INTO THE
RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE
VACCINE EQUITY COMMUNITY
PERSPECTIVE FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTERS WITH
US, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
BOTH PANELS AND I WILL GO AHEAD
AND HANDED OVER TO YOU ALL TO
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND IF YOU
COULD POPCORN AMONGST EACH OTHER
, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET
FOLKS INTRODUCED AND WE WILL
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF MAKING
PRESENTATIONS.
WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?
SHOULD WE START WITH JIJI
JALLY?
>> HI, EVERYONE, COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JIJI JALLY, I'M FROM
THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY, AND
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> GREAT.
DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY IS A
COMMUNITY MEMBER.
>> HI, TERESITA BATALOYA,
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH
SERVICES AND I'M ONE OF THE
PANELISTS, ESTHER.
>> I FIGURED YOU WOULD GO ME.
HELLO, EVERYONE.
I'M ESTHER LUCERO , I'M THE
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE
SEATTLE HEALTH BOARD.
YOU WILL SEE A SHIFT IN TITLES
FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON
SINCE OUR ORGANIZATION HAS
DOUBLED IN SIZE SINCE I STARTED
WITH THE ORGANIZATION.
WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT ON TO
MY PARTNER IN CRIME, ABIGAIL
ECHO-HAWK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I'M A CITIZEN OF THE PAWNEE
NATION OF OKLAHOMA, MY FATHER
FROM THE PEOPLE IN MY MOTHER'S
SIDE FROM ALASKA.
FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD RIGHT CONDUCT
PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS ALONG
WITH OUR NATIONAL TRIBAL
CENTER.
EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY.
>> THANKS, ABIGAIL.
AND HOW ABOUT DR. DANIELSN?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M BEN
DANIELSON, A PEDIATRICIAN WHO
WORK IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF
SEATTLE MOST OF MY CAREER AND
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH
THIS INCREDIBLE PANEL.
AND WITH THIS COUNCIL SO THANK
YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE HAVE
JESUS SANCHEZ.
JESUS, YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> OKAY, I'M STILL TECHNICALLY
CHALLENGED.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> IT HAPPENS.
>> I'M OUT HERE REPRESENTING
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
SEAMAR . THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR
AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND
THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY, GOOD
AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU, JESUS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH
US.
I THINK THAT DID COVER
EVERYBODY ON THE COMMUNITY
PANEL SIDE.
AS MEMBERS OF THE VIEWING
PUBLIC AND COLLEAGUES, YOU CAN
SEE WE HAVE A VERY POWERFUL
PANEL OF EXPERTS AS WELL AS
IMPACTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH
US IN THE PANEL TODAY.
I KNOW EACH OF YOU HAVE A LOT
TO SHARE WITH US BUT IN AN
EFFORT TO TRY TO STAY
ORGANIZED, WE WILL START WITH
EACH PRESENTER SHARING THEIR
PERSPECTIVES AND CONCERNS
REGARDING VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
AND IF WE CAN KEEP IT SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 3 TO 5 MINUTES THAT
WOULD BE CIRCLE SUPER GREAT.
WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE.
I THINK OUR MASTER EMCEE BEHIND-
THE-SCENES, AND JUST SORT OF
SAYING THE WORDS, CAME UP WITH
AN ORDER OF SPEAKERS SO WE WILL
START WITH TERESITA AND HEAD
OVER TO ESTHER AND ABIGAIL AND
HEAR FROM JESUS AND DR.
DANIELSON AND GIGI WILL BRING
US HOME.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL
HANDED OVER TO TERESITA .
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ AND
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE
MORE PUBLICLY OUR EXPERIENCES
AND I WOULD NEVER CLAIM TO BE
AN EXPERT BUT DEFINITELY WE HAVE
THE EXPERIENCES OF THE
COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT IS LIKE
TO BATTLE FOR SCARCE SUPPLIES
OF VACCINES.
BRIEF OVERVIEW ON ICHS, 47
YEARS OF CARE, SERVICE AND
ADVOCACY.
WE HAVE BEEN AROUND THAT LONG.
WE STARTED IN THE LATE 1960s
WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND
STUDENT ACTIVISTS WHO WERE
ANGERED OVER LIVING CONDITIONS
FOR THE ELDERLY AND SINGLE ROOM
OCCUPANCY HOTELS AND
DILAPIDATED CHINATOWN DISTRICT
NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR CLINIC STARTED OFF AS
HEALTH CLINIC IN 1973 AS PART
OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
FOR THE ASIAN COMMUNITY
DEMANDING EQUAL RIGHTS AND
ACCESS TO SERVICES.
I WILL ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ENABLED
US TO BE ABLE TO GET STARTED
SPECIFICALLY FOR BLACK AND
LATINO COMMUNITIES VERY PRESENT
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US AND THE
NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHERE
WE HAVE A LARD OF SHARED
RELATIONSHIPS.
THE ARRIVAL OF VIETNAM WAR
REFUGEES IN THE 1970s VERY
QUICKLY SHIFTED OUR SERVICES TO
ACCOMMODATE NOT JUST THE
ELDERLY BUT ALL AGES AND MORE
LANGUAGES THEN WE ARE SERVING.
TODAY WE HAVE FULL SERVICE
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER WITH 11
SITES SERVING 50 DIFFERENT WHEN
WHICH IS A YEAR AND THOSE
LINKAGES ARE ASIAN, PACIFIC
ISLANDER, EAST AFRICAN, EASTERN
EUROPEAN, AND OF COURSE SPANISH
ALSO.
WE ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION OF
501(C)(3) IN 2007 BECAUSE WHEN
YOU HAVE PRIMARILY LOW INCOME
PATIENTS IT IS VERY HARD TO DO
ANY KIND OF FUNDRAISING WE NEED
TO HAVE THAT FOR GENERAL
COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
NEXT PLEASE.
OUR 2020 DATA STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF DINGDONG BUT IN 2019
WE SERVED CLOSE TO 33,000
PATIENTS AND HEALTHCARE CENTER
VISITS, WE ARE TAKING CARE OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE MULTIPLE
CONDITIONS SO THEY NEED
MULTIPLE VISITS PLUS BECAUSE WE
DON'T JUST PROVIDE MEDICAL,
MENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH,
NUTRITION, PHARMACY SERVICES,
THEY CAN GET THE BENEFIT OF ALL
OF THOSE SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING
TO RUN FROM BUILDING TO
BUILDING, HOSPITAL TO PROVIDER
TO CLINIC ETC.
WE HAD OVER 460,000 HEALTH
ENCOUNTERS MEETING WE WERE ALSO
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, DOING
WORK BEYOND THE WALLS OF OUR
EXAM ROOMS, DOING HEALTH
EDUCATION, DOING HEALTH FAIRS,
VACCINATIONS AND OTHER HEALTH
RELATED ACTIVITIES.
7 OUT OF 10 OF OUR PATIENTS ARE
LOW INCOME, 4 OUT OF 5 PATIENTS
ARE PERSONS OF COLOR AND NUMBER
ONE OUT OF 5 ARE OVER 65 YEARS
OLD AND 1 OUT OF 10 PATIENTS
ARE HOMELESS.
OUR PATIENT COVERAGE TENDS TO
BEAT MEDICAID, MEDICARE.
THE PRIVATELY INSURED PATIENTS
THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE ARE
USUALLY PATIENTS THAT HAVE
GOTTEN COVERAGE TO THE
WASHINGTON STATE HEALTH
EXCHANGE AUTHORITY WHICH MEANS
THESE ARE SUBSIDIZED PLANS.
ABOUT 7 % ARE UNINSURED.
THE UNINSURED HAS FLUCTUATED
QUITE A BIT, ESPECIALLY THE
LAST FOUR YEARS UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION JUST
BECAUSE A LOT OF FEAR AND
INTIMIDATION WAS INSTILLED IN
OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE WE SERVE PRIMARILY
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
POPULATIONS.
WE DID OVER $1 MILLION WORTH OF
COMPENSATED CARE, OVER HALF OF
THE PATIENTS NEEDED
INTERPRETATION INTO 50
LANGUAGES, ABOUT HALF LIVE IN
SEATTLE AND WE HAVE 11 SITES IN
KING COUNTY.
MOVING ONTO COVID-19 DEFINITELY
HAS BEEN, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE,
PERSISTENCE IN A TIME OF
PANDEMIC.
NEXT SLIDE.
JUST TO KIND OF REFRESH
EVERYONE'S MEMORY, IT WAS A
LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN WE
HAD THE FIRST COVID-19 CASE
CONFIRMED IN THE COUNTRY BUT
ALSO IN OUR STATE.
AND VERY SOON AFTER, OUR
BELLEVUE CLINIC GOT IMPACTED
WHEN THE FIRST PATIENT WITH
RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS
PRESENTED HERSELF BUT NO RECENT
TRAVEL SO AT THAT TIME EVERYONE
THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF
TRAVEL ASSOCIATED WITH WUHAN
THAT BROUGHT COVID-19 HERE.
THIS PATIENT HAD NO TROUBLE
ASSOCIATED, THE PATIENT WAS
TESTED AND CONFIRMED TO BE
COVID-19 POSITIVE.
THAT PATIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
PIERCE CENTER WHICH REMAINED
EYE OF THE STORM FOR SEVERAL
MONTHS WHERE WE HAD SO MANY
ELDERLY DIE. BY FEBRUARY 29, WE
EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST DEATH IN
KING COUNTY WHEN PUBLIC HEALTH
ANNOUNCED THAT.
THAT DEATH RELATED TO LIFE CARE
CENTER.
MARCH 23 WE BEGIN DRIVE THROUGH
TESTING STARTING WITH CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
CLINICS, INSTITUTED TEMPERATURE
AND SYMPTOM CHECKS AT ALL
SITES, DENTAL ACCESS BECAME TO
TO EMERGENCY SERVICES ONLY SO
WE LOST 90 % OF OUR DENTAL
SERVICES BECAUSE OF THAT
IMITATION.
WE STARTED TO DO POP UP TESTING
IN THE SHADED COMMUNITIES WITH
SEVERE BARRIERS TO ACCESS
INCLUDING TESTING PACIFIC
ISLANDER POPULATIONS AT SOUTH
KING COUNTY BECAUSE PACIFIC
ISLANDERS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO BEGAN A MASS TESTING
SITE AT BELLEVUE COLLEGE WHICH
HIT A HIGH OF 1200 TESTS A DAY,
NOW AVERAGING BETWEEN 700 AND
800.
WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION, WE
ALSO DID COMMUNITY FLU
VACCINATIONS WHICH IS VERY
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE DID NOT
WANT TO HAVE LAYERS OF DISEASES
AND ILLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES
SO WE DID VERY AGGRESSIVE FLU
CLINIC EFFORTS OUT IN THE
GENERAL COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO FAR, WE PARTICIPATED IN
VACCINATING ONE ACHE QUALIFIED
PEOPLE BEYOND ICHS STAFF TO
INCLUDE OTHER ONE ACHE FROM
OTHER NONPROFITS AND
VACCINATING THE SENIORS
ASSOCIATED WITH LEGACY HOUSE.
NOW WE ARE IN 1B, THOSE AGE 65
AND OLDER AND MULTI-GENERATION
HOUSEHOLDS, THIS IS WHERE THE
PROBLEM STARTED FOR US.
SINCE EXPANSION IN JANUARY 18,
WE RECEIVED ZERO ALLOCATIONS
FOR EACH OF THE THREE WEEKS
THAT 1B BECAME QUALIFIED, IT
WAS VERY ALARMING AND LED TO
MEET BASICALLY BANGING ON DOORS,
RATTLING WINDOWS, AND ENDLESS
EMAILS, TEXT, AND CALLS TO
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT,
STATE, LOCAL AND COUNTY.
OUR RAISED CONCERNS LED TO
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY TO TRANSFER DOSES TO US
DURING THE WEEKS OF JANUARY 25
AND FEBRUARY 1. THOSE DOSES
WERE VERY LIMITED.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT
WE HAVE ABOUT 7000 PATIENTS,
JUST OUR PATIENTS ALONE, WHO
QUALIFY AS BEING 65 YEARS OR
OLDER, 500 DOES NOT GET YOU MUCH
IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO TAKE
CARE OF THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE VACCINATING
NOT JUST OUR PATIENTS BUT THE
COMMUNITY AROUND US AND RIGHT
NOW WE ARE HELPING VACCINATE
CHINATOWN INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO
LIVE THERE, THE ELDERS LIVE IN
LOW INCOME HOUSING, DO NOT HAVE
ANY KIND OF ACCESS TO VACCINES
OTHERWISE.
FROM JANUARY 25 TO FEBRUARY 52
WE ONLY RECEIVED 1300 DOSES NOT
FROM OUR ORDERS BUT FROM
TRANSVERSE, NOT JUST FOR PUBLIC
HEALTH BUT ALSO RECEIVED FROM
SWEDISH.
OF THIS TOTAL, APPROXIMATELY
150 DOSES WENT TO COMMUNITY
EVENTS.
OF ALL OF OUR CLINICS, ONLY
CHINATOWN AND THIS WEEK, HOLLY
PARK ALSO RECEIVED SOME DOSES
FOR VACCINATIONS.
BELLEVUE AND SHORELINE CLINICS
CONTINUE TO WAIT.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT UNDERLYING
CONDITIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR
COMMUNITIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH,
DEFINITELY HIT HARD WITH RACISM,
AGE AND POVERTY ISSUES.
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON
COVID-19 ON SENIORS, BLACKS,
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE
OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES,
WE ARE SUCH HIGH RISK FOR
SPREAD FOR HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
DEATHS.
DEFINITELY FROM OUR POINT OF
VIEW, THERE IS SEVERE ABSENCE OF
VACCINE EQUITY.
THE BARRIERS ARE HIGH AND WIDE.
THE DIVIDE IS VERY REAL.
YOU HAVE TO BE ADEPT USING FACE
FINDER, THEN SCOUR SITES IF YOU
QUALIFY AND ANY AVAILABLE
APPOINTMENT.
OF COURSE, THAT ASSUMES YOU
HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND
RIGHT PLAN, AND THE RIGHT
FINGER THAT CAN DO REFRESH,
REFRESH, REFRESH TO FIND ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT AVAILABLE
VACCINES THAT ARE VERY HARD TO
FIND.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE PRESENTS A
BIG BARRIER.
WE FIND THERE IS MISINFORMATION
AND CONFUSION, THERE IS SO MUCH
INFORMATION OUT THERE THAT
COUNTERACT DIFFERENT PIECES OF
INFORMATION.
AND WITH OUR POPULATION, WE FIND
THEY GET INFORMATION FROM OTHER
SOURCES BEYOND OR ASIDE FROM
THE OFFICIAL SOURCES.
AND THEN THERE IS ACCESS
AVAILABILITY CHALLENGES FOR
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING OR HAVE
TO CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THEIR
FAMILY.
ACTIONS NEEDED, NEXT SLIDE
PLEASE.
WE ARE IN ULTRA RACE AGAINST
COVID-19 AND ITS AGGRESSIVE
VARIANTS FOR THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
WE HAVE TO WALK THE TALK,
GOVERNMENT HAS TO WALK THE
TALK.
ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT I
TALKED TO HOLD EQUITY AS A
FUNDAMENTAL VALUE AND YET THE
VACCINE ALLOCATION DOES NOT
MIRROR THE VALUE.
IT IS SO FRUSTRATING FOR ME TO
HAVE TO DO THESE CALLS, TEXT
MESSAGES, AND EMAILS WEEK AFTER
WEEK TO GET THE RIGHT THING TO
HAPPEN.
ORDERS BY COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS MUST BE FILLED.
I DO NOT KNOW OF A SINGLE UNITY
HEALTH CENTER THAT TRIES TO
HOARD OR OVER ORDER BEYOND WHAT
WE REASONABLY FEEL WE CAN REALLY
PUSH OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO
NOT JUST PATIENTS BUT OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THE LAST POINT I HAVE IS
BECAUSE WE ARE ON ULTRA RACE
AND BECAUSE OUR POPULATIONS
HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONALLY
AFFECTED, I DO BELIEVE WE NEED
TO HAVE ALL PROVIDERS ENGAGE.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO ADDRESS
EQUITY.
IT CANNOT BE JUST US WHO ARE
ALREADY FOCUSED ON THE EQUITY
ISSUES.
EVERYBODY, ALL OF THE
HOSPITALS, ALL OF THE
PROVIDERS, EVEN THE MASS
VACCINATION SITES, THEY HAVE TO
HAVE A PLAN FOR EQUITY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT, I WILL
SAY COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ, YOU
TALKED ABOUT THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE
KUDOS TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE
BEEN VACCINATING SOME OF THE
BUILDINGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO
REACH THE ELDERS SO THEY DON'T
HAVE TO COME OUT AND TAKE THE
RISK OF BEING IN LINE FOR
VACCINE SO WE THANK THAT
PARTNERSHIP BUT WE NEED SO MUCH
MORE TO HAPPEN.
>> THANK YOU, TERESITA FOR
THAT PRESENTATION AND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF WORK.
I THINK THE MOBILE TEAM MODEL
IS ONE SHOWING PROMISE SO I
DEFINITELY AM INTERESTED
CONTINUING TO ENGAGE WITH YOU
ALL TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUE
TO SHOW PROMISE IN TERMS OF
POTENTIAL EQUITY MODEL.
OF COURSE, WE NEED MUCH MORE
HERE IN THIS SPACE.
COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AT
THE END OF THE PRESENTATION BUT
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE
HAVING BURNING QUESTIONS NOW AS
PANELISTS CONCLUDE THEIR
SECTIONS, FEEL FREE TO LET ME
KNOW.
FEEL FREE TO SEND ME A TEXT
MESSAGE OR USE THE RACE THE
HAND FEATURE OR GO OLD SCHOOL
AND RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE
VIDEO AND I WILL MAKE SURE TO
CALL ON FOLKS AS YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS, OKAY?
OKAY.
WE WILL TRANSITION OVER, I
THINK NEXT UP IN THE SLIDE DECK
IS ESTHER AND ABIGAIL.
>> OKAY, FANTASTIC.
ABIGAIL, I WILL HAVE YOU START
SINCE WE ARE STARTING WITH
DISPARITIES AND THINGS LIKE
THAT AND I WILL GO INTO A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH HOW
THIS HAS PLAYED OUT WITHIN THE
SEATTLE AREA.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, ESTHER AND
TERESITA FOR THAT INCREDIBLE
PRESENTATION.
YOU LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR
WHAT EQUITY IS NOT LOOKING LIKE
IN OUR STATE OR COUNTY OR
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND WORDS
AND ESTHER FOR LETTING ME JUMP
INTO THIS RIGHT NOW.
I'M REALLY APPRECIATING ESTHER,
NICE NEW PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT
EACH OTHER.
AS WE DO THIS VERY DIFFICULT
AND DRAINING AND TRAUMATIC WORK
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW RIGHT NOW THE HEALTH
INEQUITIES THAT EXIST AROUND
COVID-19 ARE NOT NEW.
WHAT WE SEE IS A SYSTEM BUILT
TO MARGINALIZE AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE ELIMINATE US.
WHAT WE SEE WITH COVID-19 AND
THIS VIRUS IS THAT THE SYSTEMS
ARE WORKING.
THIS IS WHAT INSTITUTIONAL AND
STRUCTURAL RACISM LOOKS LIKE
AND ITS OUTCOME.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE
SURPRISED TO SEE IT FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
MY ANSWER TO THEM IS I NEVER
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT SEE
IT.
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SEATTLE
INDIAN HEALTH BOARD NEVER HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT KNOW
THIS IS WHAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, OUR
ORGANIZATION REALLY
CONCENTRATED ON FULFILLING THE
GAPS WE COULD NOT EXPECT TO GET
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
FROM THE STATES OR COUNTIES,
PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK AT THE
DATA.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INFORMATION
RIGHT NOW COMING OUT AROUND
COVID-19, WE KNOW AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA OF NATIVES
3.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE
INFECTED AND ONE POINT TIMES
LIKELY TO DIE.
I WAS CO-AUTHOR ON BOTH
PATIENTS.
HOWEVER, WHILE I WAS GLAD TO
PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT, THE
THING I WAS MOST CONCERNED
ABOUT WAS THE FACT WE WERE ONLY
ABLE TO LOOK AT A LIMITED
NUMBER OF STATES FOR THE 3.5
MORE LIKELY TO BE INFECTED, WE
CAN ONLY LOOK AT 23 STATES IN
THE NATION SIMPLY BECAUSE ONLY
23 STATES WERE REPORTING AT
LEAST 70 % OF RACE AND
ETHNICITY.
THAT MEANS MOST OF THE OTHER
STATES INCLUDING WASHINGTON
STATE HAVE SUCH GAPS IN THEIR
DATA AND AS A RESULT OF THE
NONINVESTMENT IN THE PUBLIC
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, PEOPLE
ARE GETTING AWAY WITH NOT
CAPTURING RACE AND ETHNICITY.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, THESE
HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE
EFFECTIVELY BEING HIDDEN.
IF WE LOOK AT WASHINGTON STATE
RIGHT NOW AND THE PERSON OF
MISSING RACE AND ETHNICITY FOR
WASHINGTON STATE, WE ARE AT 51 %
IS MISSING IN WASHINGTON STATE
DATA.
IF WE LOOK AT THE COVID-19
CASES IN COUNTY, 45 % IS
MISSING, HOW CAN POLICYMAKERS
MAKE ANY KIND OF INFORMED
DECISIONS BASED ON DATA THAT
DOES NOT EXIST?
THE DATA THAT DOES NOT EXIST IS
VERY OFTEN THAT OF AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES,
HISPANIC AMERICANS, LATIN
AMERICAN EX-AND PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
AS A RESULT OF THAT,
FUNDAMENTAL EQUITY ELSE INTO THE
GOVERNMENT AS IS OFTEN SAID, IN
ACTUALITY WE HAVE NEVER SEEN
THAT.
THAT IS RESULTING IN THE DEATH
OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I FEEL REALLY FIERY RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I DO RESENT THAT TWO
DAYS AGO OF A FRIEND, A COUSIN
TWO WEEKS AGO, ANOTHER RELATIVE
THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT.
THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
NATIVE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE
ARE DYING AND OFTEN DYING IN
SILENCE.
WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY AROUND
THE COVID VACCINE, IT HAS
BECOME INTEGRA FOR US TO
RECOGNIZE WE ARE NOT GOING TO
GET THE INFORMATION WE NEED
FROM THE COUNTY OR THE STATE
AND THE WAY WE NEED TO GET IT
TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT OURSELVES.
THE URBAN INDIAN HEALTH
INSTITUTE AND HEALTH BOARD
RECENTLY RELEASED THE VERY FIRST
COMING OUT OF SEATTLE FOR THE
NATION, DATA ON PERCEPTIONS AND
HESITANCY AND POSSIBLE UPTAKE
IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN AND
NATIVE ALASKAN COMMUNITY.
I WROTE THAT SURVEY LATE-NIGHT
OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK WHILE
THE REST OF MY STAFF WAS
DEALING WITH OTHER THINGS.
JUGGLING SCARCE RESOURCES,
BARELY SEEING MY FAMILY AS
ESTHER AND I'M SURE ALL THE
OTHER FOLKS WORKING COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS ARE DOING THE
SAME BECAUSE NATIONALLY, THERE
HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH INFORMATION
ON THE HESITANCY'S AROUND THE
COVID VACCINE FOR AMERICAN
INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES.
INSTEAD WE SAW FOLKS GUESSING,
USING INFORMATION FROM THE FLU
VACCINE AND OTHERS, THIS IS NOT
THE TIME TO GUESS, THIS IS THE
TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION TO
DIRECT RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO
KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WE WERE ABLE TO JUGGLE FUNDING,
PUT OUT THIS REPORT AND WHAT WE
FOUND IN THIS REGION, NATIVE
PEOPLE WERE 77 % WERE WILLING
TO GET VACCINATED, WILLING TO
GET VACCINATED AND HESITANCY IS
NOT MUTUALLY EXCUSES. ALL OF
THOSE FOLKS HAD HESITANCY SO
THEY TOLD US WHAT WE NEEDED TO
KNOW, WHAT THE CLINICAL TRIALS
LOOK LIKE, HOW MANY NATIVE
PEOPLE ARE INCLUDED.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE
WERE OTHER NATIVE LEADERS.
THE NUMBER ONE PLACE THEY
WANTED TO GET INFORMATION FROM
WAS URBAN AND HEALTH PROGRESS,
TRIBAL PROGRAMS AND TRUSTED
COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THAT IS WHO THEY TRUSTED.
DO YOU KNOW WHO'S AT THE
BOTTOM?
GOVERNMENT.
POLICYMAKERS NOT ASSOCIATED
WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THE TIME WE DID THE SURVEY,
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
WE ARE THE TRUSTED COMMUNITY
MESSENGERS AND TOOK THAT
INFORMATION SERIOUSLY.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GREAT
INFORMATION COMING OUT OF KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE
HEALTH MATERIALS DID NOT MEET
THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT SOMETHING I WOULD PUT IN
OUR CLINIC.
WE CREATED OUR OWN USING THIS
INFORMATION THAT REALLY HOLD
TOWARD WHAT NATIVE PEOPLE WERE
LOOKING TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND.
OUR INFORMATION ON MODERNA
VACCINE WHICH WE HAVE HERE
INCLUDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CLINICAL TRIALS IT ALSO
INCLUDES ONE OF THE KEY
FINDINGS FROM OUR STUDY, AGAIN
I HAD TO WRITE LATE AT NIGHT
OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND
STRUGGLE TO FIND MONEY TO
LAUNCH AND TO DO THE ANALYSIS
OF.
WHAT WE FOUND IS 74 % OF ALL
NATIVE PEOPLE WERE MAKING THE
DECISION TO GET VACCINATED
BASED ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITY
TO THEIR COMMUNITY, THEIR
TRIBE, AND TO THEIR FAMILY.
WHEN THE SAME QUESTION WAS
ASKED OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
ONLY 36 % SAID THAT WAS THEIR
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND 53
% OF LATINX WAS MUCH LOWER FOR
NON-HISPANIC WHITES.
THE NATIVE COMMUNITY HAS A VERY
DISTINCT REASON FOR GETTING
VACCINATED.
THUS MAKING EVERY OTHER HEALTH
MATERIAL THAT GROUPS OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR TOGETHER MEANINGLESS
TO US.
IT REALLY SHOWED HOW YOU NEED
TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO
PROPERLY COMMUNICATE WHY
GETTING VACCINATED IS IMPERATIVE
THE SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH
BOARD, WE DON'T JUST GATHER
INFORMATION TO PUT OUT TO THE
PUBLIC, WE IMPLEMENTED IT THE
MOMENT WE GOT IT AS IT WAS
COMING IN.
IS THE WAY WE ROLLED OUT OUR
VACCINATION CLINIC LEADING UP
TO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON WHERE THOSE
VACCINES WERE GOING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I KEEP
HEARING CONSTANTLY BEFORE I
PASS IT ON TO ESTHER IS MY
PUBLIC-HEALTH COLLEAGUES,
LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY AROUND
HEALTH LITERACY.
THE HEALTH LITERACY OF THE
COMMUNITY.
MY ANSWER TO THEM IS PUBLIC-
HEALTH IS THE ONE LACKING
LITERACY.
IT IS NOT THE COMMUNITY, IT IS
PUBLIC-HEALTH.
WE HAVE NOT IMPLEMENTED OR
PRACTICED WHAT MANY PUBLIC-
HEALTH ENTITIES AND GOVERNMENT
HAVE SAID ABOUT EQUITY.
IT HAS BECOME DISCOURSE WE SIT
AROUND TABLES AND TALK ABOUT
RATHER THAN ACTUAL
IMPLEMENTATION.
NOW THAT PLACES LIKE THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD
HAVE IMPLEMENTED THAT, WHEN WE
LOOK AT THE DATA AVAILABLE ON
JACK VACCINE UPTAKE IN KING
COUNTY, WE ARE HEARING OTHER
PEOPLE TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT.
AND NOT EVEN MENTIONING THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD OR
THE WORK WE ARE DOING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ENGAGING
THAT MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE
MATERIALS THEY NEED TO
COMMUNICATE TO THEIR PEOPLE
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GET
VACCINATED.
NOT ONLY IS THE EQUITY WORK
BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S
AND CREDIT TAKEN IN OTHER
PLACES.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT MEANS
THE PLACES THAT GET THE CREDIT
THAT IS NOT US, IT IS NOT ABOUT
THE CREDIT, IT IS ABOUT THE
RESOURCES THAT COME WITH THAT.
IS THE PERPETUATION OF A SYSTEM
BUILT ON STRUCTURAL RACISM BUT
DOES NOT TRUST THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WERE THE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS OF BOTH IMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THE
INFORMATION WE HAVE GATHERED
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND
GATHERING THEIR VOICES, WE
HONORED IT AND IMPLEMENTED IT
IN THE WEIGHT VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION HAS HAPPEN AT THE
SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD.
I WILL PASS IT TO ESTHER.
>> THANK YOU, ABIGAIL.
I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING, MY
HEART IS BREAKING.
I WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THIS IS
THE VERY FIRST TIME URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAMS WERE
INCLUDED IN ANY VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE FLU
SHOTS.
THE REASON THAT IS SIGNIFICANT
BECAUSE WE SET OURSELVES UP
WELL.
THE SEATTLE INDIAN HEALTH BOARD
WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM, POLICY
TEAM DEDICATING THEMSELVES TO
INFORMING THE LANGUAGE THAT
GOES INTO LEGISLATION.
WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE
TRIBAL PARTNERS WHO BELIEVE IN
US AS PART OF CONTINUITY OF
CARE WHO CONTINUOUSLY LEVERAGE
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY TO SUPPORT
OUR DISTRIBUTION.
I'M FLOORED BY THAT BECAUSE I'M
LOOKING AT TERESITA WHO DOES
NOT HAVE THAT.
THE THING WE HAVE IS THE URBAN
INDIAN HEALTH INSTITUTE AND WE
ARE WELL-VERSED IN PUBLIC
HEALTH INFORMATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT
IS WHAT IT MEANS TO EMPOWER
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THE SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD IS A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF THAT.
WHAT HAPPENS INSTEAD IS THIS
VERY INTRINSIC INTERTWINED
RELATIONSHIP THE CITY OF
SEATTLE HOUSE WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH KING COUNTY THAT
CONTINUES TO TRY TO BE PUBLIC-
HEALTH FR ALL ENTITIES AND NOT
LISTENING TO COMMUNITY VOICES
AND CERTAINLY NOT EMPOWERING
COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT THEIR
OWN STRATEGIES.
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY EMPOWER
COMMUNITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THEMSELVES, YOU GET TO DO
IT LIKE WE HAVE.
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE BEEN
CONSISTENTLY RECEIVING
REPLENISHMENT IN OUR VACCINES.
THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS FOR
THAT, ONE IS THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON SET ASIDE 5 % OF THE
VACCINES FOR TRIBAL
COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE THE TRIBES INCLUDED US
IN THE BACK, WE HAVE HAD ACCESS
TO THAT DISTRIBUTION LIST.
ADDITIONALLY BECAUSE WE CAN
KEEP GOOD INVENTORY RECORDS AND
AS TERESITA SAID, WE ARE ONLY
ASKING FOR THE VACCINES WE CAN
ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTE.
FIRST AND SECOND DOSES.
FOR THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR
PHARMACY DIRECTOR, PATRICK
HENRY.
WHAT PHARMACIES HAVE OTHER
CLINICAL PROVIDERS DON'T EVEN
HAVE IS THEY KNOW HOW TO MANAGE
INVENTORY AND MANAGE IT WELL.
WE ARE ABLE TO MANAGE THE
INVENTORY TO BE ABLE TO
EFFECTIVELY DISTRIBUTE IT TO
OUR COMMUNITIES.
ADDITIONALLY, WE RECEIVED THE
AUTHORITY TO HAVE THE WORD
AUTONOMY IN OUR DISTRIBUTION
MEANING WHEN THE CDC ROLLED OUT
ELDERS TO BE VACCINATED AND
THEY HAD TO BE 70 AND ABOVE, WE
COULD ROLL OUT 55 AND ABOVE.
NUMBER ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING
THAT LONG TIME PERIOD, THAT IS
NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, WE KNEW WE HAD
ELDERS IN THE ELDERS PROGRAM
STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS.
WANTED TO MAKE SURE BE
VACCINATED ALL OF OUR ELDERS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO
VACCINATE ALL STAFF MEMBERS.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC BOTH ON THE PUBLIC-
HEALTH SITE AND COMMUNITY
HEALTH SIDE AND WE RECOGNIZE
OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS WHO PROVIDE MUCH-
NEEDED SERVICES TO OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE WANTED
TO MAINTAIN THAT CONTINUITY OF
CARE AND GET THE SERVICES UP
AND RUNNING AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
WE WERE ABLE TO VACCINATE OUR
STAFF MEMBERS FROM CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB COMMUNITY PARTNER,
ALL TRIBES COMMUNITY PARTNER,
MOTHER NATION, COMMUNITY
PARTNER.
VERY INSTRUMENTAL WRITING
RESOURCES WE NEED AND ALSO
SERVING OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES,
ALL OF THESE FOLKS PUTTING
THEMSELVES AT RISK STILL
PROVIDING SERVICES FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE NOTHING
WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE.
ACT ABIGAIL'S POINT, OUR
COMMUNITY GETTING VACCINATED SO
WE CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY, NOT
FOR INDEPENDENT GAIN.
IT IS INTERESTING AS WE MOVE
THROUGH OUR ROLLOUT, WE STARTED
OFF VERY CONTROLLED AND ONLY
SERVING AMERICAN INDIANS ALASKA
NATIVE PEOPLE, WHEN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON DECIDED TO OPEN UP
ACCESS TO THE VACCINES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS,
THEY SAID AND 50 AND UP IF
YOU'RE IN MULTI-GENERAL FACTS,
WE WILL VACCINATE YOU.
MONO PEOPLE WE SERVE LIVE IN
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS IN
A VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE STAFF
TO SORT THROUGH WHO IS ELIGIBLE
OR NOT SO WE OPENED IT UP TO
EVERYBODY.
I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAVE NEVER
SEEN FOLKS FROM MERCER ISLAND
IN OUR CLINIC UNTIL THAT DAY.
RIGHT UP FRONT AND CENTER
BULLYING THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT
OF THE LINE SAYING THE NATIVE
ELDER GETTING A VACCINE BEFORE
ME?
FORTUNATELY, WE WERE SMART
ENOUGH TO PRESERVE 65 % OF OUR
VACCINES FOR OUR AMERICAN
INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE
POPULATIONS.
WE ARE BOOKED THROUGH THE END
OF THE MARCH FOR THE NON-NATIVE
SLOTS IF YOU WANT.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT
EXPERIENCE, IT TOOK THREE DAYS
TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK ABOUT THESE POP UP
MOBILE CLINICS SHOWING PROMISE,
WHAT IS KING COUNTY DOING TO
ENSURE THOSE VACCINES ARE STILL
GETTING TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO
LIVE IN THOSE ZIP CODES AND NOT
THE MERCER ISLAND FOLKS
TRAVELING ALL OVER TO GET TO
THE FRONT OF THE LINE?
WHEN I SAY BOLI, I MEAN BULLY.
I DO COMMEND MY STAFF ARE
MAINTAINING COMPOSURE AND
KINDNESS AND RESPECT AND LOVE
IN THOSE MOMENTS WHEN WE WERE
EXPERIENCING THAT LEVEL OF
ENTITLEMENT AND QUITE FRANKLY
PRIVILEGE.
I'M HERE TO SAY TO YOU, WHEN
YOU EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO
SERVE THEIR PEOPLE AND SERVE
THEM WELL, YOU WOULD NOT HAVE
TERESITA SITTING HERE SAYING
I CAN'T GET OUR ELDERS
VACCINATED.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THESE
EXPERIENCES WHERE ENTITLED FOLKS
INFILTRATE THE SYSTEMS DESIGNED
TO SUPPORT US.
I'M ASKING US TO DO BETTER.
I'M ALSO ASKING US TO THINK
ABOUT CAPACITY BUILDING FOR
OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SEEK
AND FOLLOW THE MODEL OF THE
SEATTLE HEALTH BOARD WHEN YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC HEALTH
SUPPORT, WHEN YOU HAVE ACCESS
TO THE RESOURCES AND POLICY AND
ADVOCACY AND THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS ARE GOING TO BE MORE
SUCCESSFUL.
IT IS ABOUT A TRANSFER OF
RESOURCES, POWER, AND AUTHORITY
AND THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO
LIVE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON ONE
THING RELATED TO WHAT ESTHER
WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I'M FORTUNATE TO DO A LOT OF
NATIONAL WORK AND WILL OFFER
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY SIMILAR
TO THIS IN THE UPCOMING WEEK
SURROUNDING THE COVID VACCINE,
SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION AND EVERY STATE
IN COUNTY IN THE NATION TRYING
TO GET AS MANY SHOTS IN ARMS AS
POSSIBLE.
THAT IS NOT EQUITY WHEN WE SEND
OUT OUR NURSE AND OTHER FOLKS
TO SPEND TIME WITH THE
BRILLIANT PEOPLE AT THE CHIEF
SEATTLE CLUB CHAIRED BY MY
SISTER WHO SHARED A PARTNERSHIP
WITH US, ENSURE GET VACCINES UP
TO 15 PEOPLE INSTEAD 100, THAT
IS EQUITY.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS, IT
IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU
REACH.
RIGHT NOW IN THIS VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION, WE ARE
CONCENTRATING TOO MUCH ON THE
NUMBERS.
THERE'S A REASON WE ARE A SMALL
POPULATION IN THIS COUNTY AND
IT IS GENOCIDE.
THE ONLY WAY WE STOP THAT
ONGOING ELIMINATION OF OUR
PEOPLE IS TO TRULY IMPLEMENT
EQUITY.
WHEN YOU SAY THE CITY OR COUNTY
IS DOING SATISFIED VACCINE, YOU
NEED TO SET IT ASIDE, MAINTAIN
ACCOUNTABILITY AND MEASURABLE
OUTCOMES FOR MAKING SURE THAT
VACCINE GETS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE
AND CAPTURE THE RACE AND
ETHNICITY SO YOU DON'T
EFFECTIVELY HIDE WHETHER OR NOT
YOU ARE REACHING EQUITY.
EQUITY, I LEARNED THIS FROM MY
DEAR FRIEND BEN DANIELSON WHO
IS ON THE CALL, EQUITY IS
UNCOMFORTABLE, DISRUPTIVE AND
ABSOLUTELY NOT VOLUNTARY BUT IT
IS THE COMMUNITY WE WANT TO SEE
AND BUILD AND THAT IS WHO WE
ARE AT THE SEATTLE INDIAN
HEALTH BOARD.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
ONE NOTHING ALSO, I LEARNED
THIS MORNING SOME OF THE BOARD
OF THE NORTHWEST CARE RIEMER
ASSOCIATION, THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION WILL DISTRIBUTE
1 MILLION DOSES OF THE VACCINE
DIRECTLY TO COMMITTEE HEALTH
CENTERS, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF
THE INEQUITIES PRESENTED WHEN
YOU GO THROUGH STATE AND COUNTY
SYSTEMS.
>> THANK YOU, ESTHER AND ABIGAIL
FOR THAT REALLY IMPORTANT REAL-
TIME REAL-LIFE CASE STUDY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF US ARE
LEARNING AS WE ARE GOING RIGHT
NOW IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE CREATING SPACE TO
LEARN FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEING
SOME GREAT SUCCESS AND REALLY
TAKING ACTION ON THESE EQUITY
GOALS SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE
WITH QUESTIONS. IF THERE ARE
OTHER QUESTIONS WE WILL TAKE
THAT, IF NOT WE WILL HANDED
OVER TO JESUS AFTER THESE
QUESTIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE SO MANY
OF YOU, YOU ARE WORKING DAY AND
NIGHT AND WEEKENDS, THANK YOU
FOR SHARING YOUR STORY WITH US.
THE FIGHT FOR HEALTH EQUITY,
YOU ARE ON THE GROUND SPEAKING
TRUTH TO POWER.
I KNOW MORE PEOPLE THAN SEATTLE
CITY COUNCIL ARE LISTENING SO
THANK YOU FOR DOING EVERYTHING
YOU ARE DOING, MY BIGGEST
QUESTION WAS, WHERE DO WE NEED
TO BE LEANING IN TO GET MORE OF
THE VACCINES TO FQHC'S, MANY
LAYERS THERE, A PARTNERSHIP
WITH STATE HEALTH , ESTHER, IF
YOU COULD SHARE MORE ABOUT THE
LAST NOTE YOU MADE IN TERMS OF
WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
WILL BE SENDING THOSE DIRECTLY
TO THE FQHC'S AND DO YOU NEED
ADVOCACY FROM US TO MAKE SURE
AS ABIGAIL SAID THOSE ARE TRULY
ALLOCATED, SET ASIDE AND THAT
EQUITY ANALYSIS AND REQUIREMENTS
GO ALONG WITH THOSE, I WOULD
LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE THAT IS GREAT NEWS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
WE LEARNED INFORMATION TODAY, I
CAN FORWARD THE ARTICLE TO YOU
DIRECTLY.
IT IS 1 MILLION DOSES, THEY DID
NOT GIVE A TIMELINE FOR FQHC
SPECIFICALLY.
YOU ASKED WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
HELP, I THINK GIVEN OUR
EXPERIENCE , CONTRACTED TO
SERVE ANYBODY REGARDLESS OF
THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
I THINK ABOUT MY AUNT TERESITA
, HOW DOES SHE MAKE SURE ELDERS
STAY PRIORITIZED WITHOUT
REACHING CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATIONS?
WE ARE BLESSED AS A NATIVE
AMERICAN HEALTH PROGRAM, WE CAN
ALLOCATE 75 % BECAUSE IT ALIGNS
WITH CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO
I THINK YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL
AND LEADERS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
CAN REALLY SET US UP TO MAKE
SURE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN MOST
NEED ARE PRIORITIZED.
>> THANKS FOR THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE THE SAME
QUESTION ALTHOUGH I MIGHT DIG
DEEPER. I'M REALLY HAPPY YOU
ARE ALL HERE, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION FOR US
TO BE HAVING.
AS I SAID AT OUR COUNCIL
BRIEFING ON MONDAY, THIS IS NOT
A NEW PROBLEM.
WE HAVE KNOWN, WE ARE A YEAR
INTO THE PANDEMIC AND WE KNEW
RACIAL EQUITY AND EQUITABLE
ACCESS WOULD BE A CHALLENGE.
WE HAD A YEAR SINCE THE
TESTING, OUTREACH FOR TESTING
BEGAN SO WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT
THE TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS, WE
HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE LANGUAGE
BARRIERS.
IT IS FRUSTRATING TO ME WE SEEM
TO RELEARN THERE IS A RACIAL
EQUITY ISSUE EVERY TIME
SOMETHING HAPPENS.
ESTHER, YOU MADE A POINT WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T
BULLYING THEIR WAY INTO THE
FRONT OF THE LINE.
WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT
HAPPEN.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT PROACTIVE
STEPS CAN WE TAKE TO ENSURE
EQUITY? SETTING ASIDE, ALLOWING
FOR THE SET-ASIDE FOR CERTAIN
PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE, CERTAIN
POPULATION, I'M WONDERING IF
YOU HAVE SPECIFIC LIKE HOW
SPECIFIC SHOULD THOSE KINDS OF
REQUIREMENTS BE? SHOWING I.D.
WITH THE ZIP CODE OR YOUR AGE?
HOW DO WE PUT IN PLACE THE
CHECKS ON THIS? BECAUSE RIGHT
NOW IT IS REALLY JUST AN HONOR
SYSTEM AND WE HAVE SEEN HOW
THAT WORKS.
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE NEED TO EMPOWER
HEALTH COMMUNITY CENTERS TO
DECIDE AND WE CAN PUT OUT OUR
OWN MESSAGING.
FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH
CENTERS ARE WORRIED.
IF TERESITA WAS ABLE TO SAY,
LOOK WE ONLY HAVE ENOUGH
VACCINES TO VACCINATE ALL OF
OUR ELDERS AND THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO DO FIRST, DON'T
COME OR CALL BECAUSE YOU WON'T
GET AN APPOINTMENT.
THAT IS GREAT.
YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL CAN PUT
YOUR AUTHORITY BEHIND THAT.
OR FOR US, IF WE TRY TO
PRESERVE OUR LANGUAGE KEEPERS,
CULTURE KEEPERS, BEING ABLE TO
DO THAT.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO
DO, WE NEED TO LET COMMUNITIES
COME UP WITH THEIR OWN
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES.
THAT IS HOW YOU REACH THE
PEOPLE YOU WANT TO SERVE, WE
SERVE THEM EVERY DAY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN
SINCE MY NAME KEEPS COMING UP.
OUR STRATEGY IS DIFFERENT.
WHEN WE OPENED UP THE SCHEDULE
PUBLICLY, WE QUICKLY FOUND OUT
NO, WE HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN.
IT IS VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE FOR
US, FOR PATIENTS CALLING THEM
DIRECTLY SO WE COULD ANSWER
QUESTIONS UP FRONT AND BE ABLE
TO BRING THEM BUT IN THE
COMMUNITY SETTING, WHAT WE ARE
DOING IS PARTNERING WITH OTHER
NONPROFITS.
FOR INSTANCE, IN CHINATOWN-
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT, WE ARE
PARTNERING WITH SEATTLE
CHINATOWN ENTERED INTERNATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT,
THEY MANAGE THE BUILDINGS WITH
THE ELDERS IN THEM AND THEY DO
UPFRONT, THEY DO THE INITIAL
COLLECTION OF REGISTRATION
INFORMATION.
THEY HELP A COMPANY THE ELDERS
TO A SPECIAL SITE OUT IN THE
COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF MAKING
THEM WALK ALL THE WAY TO 8th
AND DEARBORN FOR THE
VACCINATION.
WE ARE ALSO COORDINATING WITH
CHINESE INFORMATION SERVICE
CENTER WHICH IS WORKING WITH
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT SO WE
KNOW WHICH BUILDINGS WILL GET
COVERED, WHICH ELDERS WILL NOT
GET LEFT BEHIND.
VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE FOR US
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS NEEDED
AT THIS POINT.
I'M REALLY FEARFUL OF WHEN THE
QUALIFIED FACES HIT ESSENTIAL
WORKERS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY
IN OUR UNITY, NOT JUST
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
, SOUTH SEATTLE, WE HAVE NOT
DONE ANY COMMUNITY EVENTS IN
SOUTH SEATTLE JUST BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE THE SUPPLY.
WE HAVE COMMUNITY NONPROFIT
PARTNERS WAITING AND EAGER, WHO
ARE CONTACTING US SAYING, WHEN
ARE YOU COMING OUT TO SERVE US
IN SEATTLE?
SUPPLY IS ALWAYS A BIG BARRIER.
I HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL THE
INTENSITY OF WORK HAS ENABLED
US TO DEEPEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS
WITH THE OTHER NONPROFITS, I
WOULD LOVE FOR ACRS AND THE
VIETNAMESE REFUGEE ASSOCIATION
TO BE IN PLAY, I WOULD LOVE
THESE OTHER COMMUNITY
NONPROFITS WHO ARE THE TRUSTED,
WE ARE TRUSTED, THEY ARE
TRUSTED EDIT EVEN GUT LEVEL AND
GRANULAR LEVEL.
THAT IS WHAT IT TAKES IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
IT IS NOT THE MASS VACCINATION
SITES.
BUT IT WORKS DIFFERENTLY IN
OTHER PLACES AND I'M SURE JESUS
WILL BE VERY PROUDLY SHARING
THEIR EXPERIENCES, IT IS ALSO
VERY DIFFERENT FROM OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> I WANTED TO ADD ONE THING,
VERY OFTEN ASKED THIS KIND OF
QUESTION AND WE TALK ABOUT HOW
WE AS A CENTER WILL BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURING EQUITY
AND ADVOCATING FOR THAT, MY
QUESTION ALWAYS BACK IS HOW
WILL THE CITY BE ACCOUNTABLE?
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE THOSE
ADMINISTERING THE DOLLARS,
THOSE WHO ARE ALLOCATING
VACCINE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO
ENSURE EQUITY IS ACHIEVED? IT
COULD START AS EASILY AS
MANDATING AND HAVING
CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-COLLECTION
OF RACE AND ETHNICITY.
A LOT OF PLACES YOU CAN DO THAT
BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ALSO HAS
TO FALL ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT
TO MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE TO
BREAKDOWN STRUCTURAL RACISM NOT
SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> THE FORMULAS AND NUMBERS
WORK AGAINST US.
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THE
ONE IN CHARGE OF ACTUALLY
ALLOCATING THE VACCINE SO YOU
KNOW PUBLIC HEALTH AND GIVE
INPUT AND ADVICE RECOMMENDATIONS
, I KNOW HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF
ICHS IN PARTICULAR, I TOLD YOU
ABOUT THE ZERO, ZERO, ZERO
RESULTS.
THE ALLOCATION FORMULA
SUPPOSEDLY HAD COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS IN IT SINCE A WEEK AGO,
TWO WEEKS NOW.
BUT IT IS LUMPED IN WITH ALL OF
THESE OTHER PROVIDERS SO IT IS
NOT SET ASIDE THE WAY MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT,
HERE'S ANOTHER LINE FOR US TO
GET INTO TO GET ALLOCATION.
THAT IS A PROBLEM IN AND OF
ITSELF.
I WOULD ECHO WHAT ABIGAIL ECHO-
HAWK SAYS ARE NOT COLLECTING
INFORMATION ON RACE AND
ETHNICITY.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING
TO THE IMMUNIZATION REGISTRY AS
OPTIONAL INFORMATION.
THOSE OF US WHO ARE VERY
ZEALOUS, VERY MUCH ON FIRE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WE DO BUT NOT
EVERYBODY DOES IT.
AND BOTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
WONDERFUL DASHBOARDS THAT LOOK
FOR COLLECTING THE DATA AND
TINY DISCLAIMERS DONE AT THE
BOTTOM THAT SAYS, WE CAN'T
REALLY RELY ON THIS DATA
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE
EVERYONE REPORTED OR WORDS TO
THAT EFFECT.
SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO HAPPEN.
IF EQUITY REALLY IS THE
PRINCIPLE, THE VALUE WE ARE
DRIVING FORTH, ALL OF THE OTHER
ACTIONS HAVE TO SLOW FROM THAT
EQUITY, INSTEAD OF CONTINUING
TO SAY IT, I DON'T NEED
SUPPORTERS SOOTHING MY FEELINGS.
I NEED ACTION.
>> THANK YOU, TERESITA . I
THINK NAOMI'S ARTICLE TITLE
THIS MORNING WAS APROPOS, A LOT
OF LIP SERVICE BUT NOT A LOT OF
ACTION.
I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE WILL
HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT A
RESOLUTION TO CEMENT WHAT OUR
EQUITY PRINCIPLES AND GOALS AND
ACTIONS ARE SO I THINK IT IS A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INTEGRATE
WHAT WE ARE HEARING AND
LEARNING INTO THAT.
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
YOU JUST, PERFECT WAY TO MOVE
FORWARD, I WAS GOING TO TALK
ABOUT BRIEFLY YOUR RESOLUTION
AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT,
WE ARE WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE
TRYING TO INFUSE LANGUAGE FROM
ABIGAIL AND WHAT ESTHER ARE
SHARING TODAY.
I WILL BE VERY QUICK BECAUSE I
KNOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHER
FOLKS, I THINK WHAT WE ARE
HEARING AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING
OUR WHOLE LIVES, THOSE OF US
WHO ARE INDIGENOUS IS, ESTHER
POINTED RIGHT TO IT AS DID
ABIGAIL, IS THAT WE NEED TO
INFUSE INDIGENOUS WAYS OF
THINKING MODELS, VALUES, INTO
NON-NATIVE GOVERNMENTS.
THE RESOLUTION YOU ARE
PROPOSING AND SOME OF THE
LANGUAGE WE ARE SUGGESTING IS
FACTUAL AND CAN'T JUST BE IN
THE RECITALS.
IT HAS TO BE IN THE RESOLVED
PORTION.
AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SEEN THEM
ALL ALONG, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HEARD ME TALK ABOUT THIS LAST
MONDAY, WHEN I FIRST TALKED
ABOUT THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT,
SOME OF THE VALUES IN ANY
COUNTRY AND HOW ABIGAIL PUT
THIS MORE APTLY IN HER REPORT,
HOW WE VALUE WEALTH IS THROUGH
GENEROSITY ABOUT WHAT WE GIVE
AWAY AND WE DON'T HOARD. THOSE
ARE PRINCIPLES IMPORTANT TO US
AND WE ARE TRYING TO BRING
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES OF WHO WE
ARE WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT INTO
OUR ROLES INTO NON-NATIVE
ORGANIZATIONS.
I'M HOPING WITH YOUR
LEADERSHIP, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT INTO PAPER
AND VISUALIZE AND WRITE AND PUT
THEM IN THERE SO WE DO AS
ABIGAIL WOULD SAY, DECOLONIZE
THE DATA FOR NATIVE PEOPLE BY
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND CONTINUE
MARCHING FORWARD IN THAT
DIRECTION SO THANK YOU.
>> ABSOLUTELY, COUNCILMEMBER
JUAREZ, PART OF THE REASON WHY
I WANT TO CIRCULATE A DRAFT PRE-
INTRODUCTION BECAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE SORT
OF A BASELINE LANGUAGE
RESOLUTION AND THAT GIVES US
ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO LAYER ON
TOP OF THAT BASE.
OTHER INTERESTS AND IMPORTANT
PERSPECTIVES INTO THE LANGUAGE.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR
PROPOSED EDITS ON THAT FROM YOU
AS WELL AS OTHERS.
OKAY.
LET'S QUICKLY TRANSITION, I
KNOW WE HAVE A FEW MORE
PRESENTERS ON OUR COMMUNITY
PANEL AND IT IS ABOUT 3:10 NOW,
I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS GET
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR
PERSPECTIVES WITH US.
I WILL HANDED OVER TO JESUS
SANCHEZ FROM SEAMAR .
>> OKAY.
GOT IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A SENSE OF
TESTIMONY OF OUR EXPERIENCES AT
SEAMAR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS.
I WANT TO READ OFF A FEW THINGS
HERE I THINK IS VERY PERTINENT
TO WHAT IS HAPPENING RECENTLY.
IN 1978, COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTER, SEAMAR COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS BEGIN ON THE
PREMISE LATINO COMMUNITIES WERE
NEGLECTED.
MANY COMMUNITY COLORS AND POOR
WHITE COMMUNITIES AFFORDED
HEALTHCARE THROUGH SEAMAR
HEALTHCARE CENTERS ON THAT
PREMISE, HEALTH EQUITY.
THE IRONY IS 40 YEARS LATER WE
FIND OURSELVES AT THE SAME
JUNCTURE FIGHTING THE ISSUE OF
HEALTH EQUITY.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS
BROUGHT IT TO THE SPOTLIGHT AND
HAS BEEN WITH US 40 YEARS.
THE RECENT STATE AND COUNTY
APPROACHES TO MASS
VACCINATIONS, WHILE EFFECT OF
DELIVERING VACCINES IN LARGE
QUANTITIES HAS DONE LITTLE TO
HELP COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
SEAMAR COMMUNITIES AND
PARTNERS IN HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS, BOOTS ON THE
GROUND APPROACH IS TYPICAL OF
HAVING IMPACT OF REACHING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
HEALTH CENTERS ARE FULLY
EQUIPPED TO DO THIS QUICKLY AND
EFFICIENTLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, 13 OF SEAMAR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS
RECEIVED VACCINES OUT OF THE 36
WE HAVE.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE 100
VACCINES FOR EACH CLINIC TO
GIVE ON A DAILY BASIS, WE WOULD
HAVE NEARLY 3600 VACCINATIONS A
DAY.
16,000 VACCINATIONS A WEEK.
THAT IS ON A FIVE DAY WORK WEEK.
WITH ADVENT, OUR HEALTHCARE
ORGANIZATIONS, OUR PARTNERS OUT
THERE, WE CAN DO MORE THAN
DOUBLE OUR CAPACITY IN KING
COUNTY.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE
MASS VACCINATION SITES IF YOU
ALLOW US TO DO THAT WORK.
WE ARE NOT JUST VACCINATION
SITES, MASS VACCINATION SITE IN
A PARKING LOT OR MASS
VACCINATION SITE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE CAPABLE OF DELIVERING
THAT CAPACITY.
WE CAN REACH THESE POPULATIONS
BOTH WHAT OUR MOST HIGHEST RISK.
THE SAME COMMITTEES OF COLOR
TODAY SERVING SICK AND DYING
AND HOSPITALIZED AT ALARMING
RATES.
I SHARE THIS, ALSO LATINOS AND
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, NATIVE
PEOPLES AND MANY OTHER
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE
AFFECTED DAILY BY THIS.
IMAGINE IMPACT VACCINATING
COMMUNITIES WITH COMMITMENT FOR
HEALTH EQUITY AND UNITY
VACCINATIONS IN THE POOR
UNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WHEN COMBINING ALL HEALTH
ORGANIZATION PARTNERS, HOW MUCH
MORE EFFECTIVE WE CAN BE
ENGAGING EQUITY IN THE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS PLAY A
VITAL ROLE REACHING OUT TO
COMMUNITIES PROVIDING
HEALTHCARE NOT ONLY AT OUR
CLINICS BUT ALSO GO TO THEIR
HOMES FOR HOME HEALTH PROGRAMS.
WE GET THERE THROUGH MOBILE
HOME, MOBILE CLINICS TO OUR
HARD-WORKING COMMUNITIES.
MASS VACCINATION SITES DO NOT
ACCOMPLISH THIS.
AS I LOOK AT MASS VACCINATION
SITES IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THE
PANDEMIC, MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT
THIS, THIS IS NOT A SILVER
BULLET FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS NEED
TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FIGHT
REACHING OUT TO PATIENTS
TRADITIONALLY LEFT OUT OF THE
CULTURE CARE SYSTEM.
SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE CAN
HIRE MORE STAFF AND INCREASE
VACCINE ALLOCATIONS.
WE ARE CAPABLE AND WILLING TO
SUPPORT SEVEN DAY A WEEK
VACCINATIONS, COVID-19 DOES NOT
TAKE WEEKENDS OFF MORE THAN WE
SHOULD, WE SHOULD DO THE SEVEN
DAYS A WEEK.
OUR PATIENTS, INDIVIDUALS
COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY TO
GET THE VACCINATIONS WE
REPRESENT WELL AND THE
POPULATIONS WE CIRCUIT WE
BELIEVE OUR CURRENT APPROACH TO
EQUITY AND VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
IS NECESSARY.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO
BETTER, RECEIVE A BETTER
ALLOCATION AND WEEKLY SUPPLY.
WE REACHED OUT TO COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS LIKE ICHS,
FAMILY S'MORE PORT AND SEAMAR
AND OTHER HEALTH COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE THE
PREFERRED PRIMARY WEIGHT TO
EXECUTE EFFECTIVE VACCINATION
PLAN TO ENSURE ADDRESSING THE
ISSUE OF EQUITY.
THE FINAL ISSUE WE FIND IS
TRUST.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST
CRITICAL PIECE FOR US IN OUR
COMMUNITY WITH RESPECT TO TRUST
AND ACCESS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT MIGRANT
FARMWORKERS IN IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN KING COUNTY ARE
NOT SERVED BY MASS VACCINATION
SITES.
RATHER, MASS VACCINATION SITES
SERVE AS A REMINDER OF BROKEN
TRUST LEFT BY THE RESIDUE --
>> JESUS, YOU ACCIDENTALLY
MUTED.
SORRY.
WE GOT YOU BACK.
>> FARM WORKING FAMILIES IN
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES TRUST IN THE
HEALTHCARE COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS A CRITICAL STAPLE IN
THEIR LIVES WHICH COMMUNITY
HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
SEAMAR AND LOCAL HEALTH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
I CAN SAY WITH 70 SOME DEGREE
OF CONFIDENCE, HARD-PRESSED TO
FIND A FARM WORKER IN ONE OF
THESE MASS VACCINATION SITES.
I SINCERELY DOUBT THAT.
IT TAKES ESTABLISH TRUST AND
CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
HEALTH NETWORK TO REACH OUT TO
THE COMMUNITIES DELIVERING
HEALTHCARE AND VACCINATIONS.
WE MUST TAKE CRITICAL AND
SERIOUS ASPECT OF FEDERAL AND
STATE AND LOCAL STRATEGIES
DESIGNED TO REACH OUT TO THESE
POPULATIONS.
WE HERE AT SEAMAR , WE SEE IT
EVERY DAY, LAST WEEK AND FOR
EXAMPLE, WE DID MASS
VACCINATION, I WILL CALL IT
MINI, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO
FIND LAST-MINUTE 200 VACCINES
MAE AVAILABLE TO US BY ONE OF
THE LOCAL HOSPITALS BECAUSE
THEY COULD REACH OUT AND CALL US
TWO DAYS BEFORE AND AFTER REACH
OUT TO COMMUNITIES AND WE PUT
IT ON THE RADIO ON SATURDAY.
WE QUICKLY REACHED OUT TO 200
INDIVIDUALS, ACTUALLY HAD 400,
WE HAD 200 VACCINES AND REACHED
98 % OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME
FOR THE VACCINATIONS, THEY WERE
ALL LATINOS.
COMING FROM FARM COMMUNITIES,
YAKIMA, NURSERIES AS WELL, FROM
EVERYWHERE AS QUICKLY AS THEY
COULD.
WE WERE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO
200.
WE GOT WORD OUT TODAY WE MIGHT
GET ANOTHER 200 POSSIBLY THIS
WEEK.
AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN.
WE HAVE MANY MORE ISSUES LIKE
THIS THAT HAPPEN BUT THE IDEA
IS WHERE AND HOW WE WILL BE
PART OF THE STRATEGIC INKING.
WHEN I LOOK AT THAT ASKS OUR
PARTNERS LIKE TERESITA BATALOYA
AND ABIGAIL ECHO-HAWK, WE ARE
LOOKING TO BE AT THAT TABLE FOR
STRATEGIC THINKING AND
DISTRIBUTING OF OUR VACCINES.
WE HAVE TO BE AT THE TABLE FOR
DISTRIBUTION.
WE CAN'T JUST BE A RECIPIENT
THAT WE HAVE TO BE AT THE
TABLE.
THE SECOND THING THAT HAS TO
HAPPEN AND PART OF THE ASKS
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR AND I'M
LOOKING FOR IN OUR COMMUNITIES
IS AN AUDIT.
AUDIT OF EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.
THAT HAS TO HAPPEN ON A WEEKLY
BASIS, NOT MONTHLY OR ANNUAL
BASIS, THAT IS TOO LATE.
WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING
FROM AUDIT PERSPECTIVE, CALLING
FOR THE INFORMATION FROM STATE
AGENCIES --
>> HOLD NOT JUST A MINUTE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY IS NOT
MUTED.
IS TECHNOLOGY COULD MUTE THAT
PERSON, IT WOULD BE GREAT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, JESUS.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE CAN
SELF AUDIT OR AUDIT THE
AGENCIES AND DISTRIBUTION PLAN
TO SEE HOW WE ARE DOING ON A
WEEKLY BASIS SO WE CAN SELF-
CORRECT ON A WEEKLY BASIS, NOT
GIVE US THE REPORT SIX MONTHS
LATER OR THREE MONTHS LATER OR
A QUARTER LATER TO DETERMINE
HOW WELL OR BAD WE DID.
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WE DID ON A
WEEKLY BASIS SO WE CAN SELF-
CORRECT WEEKLY AND GET THAT
EQUITY ISSUE INVOLVED AT THE
LEVEL STRATEGIC LEVEL SO WE ARE
PART OF THAT PROCESS OF SELF-
CORRECTING AND CORRECTING
HELPING THE STATE TO
IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA OF
DISTRIBUTION.
OUR PARTNERS HERE TODAY, I FIND
MYSELF IN THE SAME CATEGORY, WE
HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES,
DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUES.
THE SADNESS ABOUT IT IS WE HAVE
A COMMITTEE TODAY, THANK YOU
FOR BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION
BUT I THINK THIS IS JUST AN
INDICATOR FROM 40 YEARS AGO WE
ARE HERE TODAY.
YOU KNOW, NOTHING HAS REALLY
IMPROVED MUCH. MY MOTHER, AS A
SHORT STORY, MY MOTHER WAS 62
WHEN SHE FINALLY GOT PREVENTIVE
HEALTHCARE BECAUSE WE DID NOT
GO TO HEALTHCARE UNLESS WE WERE
ON DEATH'S DOORSTEP BECAUSE WE
DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR CARE.
WE WERE HAPPY SHE BROKE HER LEG
PICKING APPLES BECAUSE WE COULD
GET HER AWAY FROM WORKING FROM
THE FIELDS.
WHEN SHE BROKE HER LEG IN THE
FARM, SHE WAS 62, SHE WENT TO
YAKIMA VALLEY HEALTH CARE.
SHE HAD ACCESS.
41 YEARS LATER SHE DIED AT 103.
WE WERE ABLE TO TO TAKE CARE OF
HER.
THE IMPORTANCE IS WE HAVE THIS
AMAZING CAPACITY, AMAZING
PASSION, AMAZING ABILITY WE CAN
ACHIEVE SO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE
A MORAL AND SENSE OF OBLIGATION
TO WANT TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITIES.
SOMETHING THE MAJORITY OF
CULTURE DOES NOT HAVE.
IT IS EMBEDDED IN US, IT IS OUR
HEARTS AND DESIRE TO IMPROVE
AND BETTER OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS WHY WE BELIEVE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE
THE CORE ANSWER TO EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES AND
EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE.
WE NEED THAT AND WE NEED
COMMUNITIES AND LEADERSHIP OF
THE CITY OF SEATTLE TO REALLY
HOLD ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT AND
HOW IT DOES ITS LEVEL OF
DISTRIBUTION.
AUDITS I BELIEVE CALLING FOR
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON A WEEKLY
BASIS SO WE ARE ALSO AT THE
SAME TABLE DEALING WITH IT THE
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT IS GOING
TO BE IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESUS FOR THAT
PRESENTATION, REALLY APPRECIATE
IT. I KNOW THE THEME IS
DEVELOPING, WE WILL HEAR MORE
OF IT FROM THE REST OF THE
PANEL ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE TO
THE STRATEGIES AROUND EQUITABLE
VACCINATION AND SOMEONE WHO IS
A PRODUCT OF THE YAKIMA VALLEY
FARMWORKERS, I CAN ATTEST TO
THE FACT HOW IMPORTANT THOSE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ARE,
NOT ONLY ACCESSING HEALTHCARE
ON THE PREVENTATIVE SIDE AND
ALSO ON THE TREATMENT SIDE.
IT IS ALSO PLACES WHERE PEOPLE
IN OUR COMMUNITY GO TO TO GET
INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS
UNRELATED TO DIRECT HEALTHCARE
PROVISION.
I'M CERTAINLY, I KNOW I'M IN
GOOD COMPANY ON THIS
PERSPECTIVE, CERTAINLY A HUGE
BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND HOW
THEY ARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
OUR UNITIES TO DELIVER THESE
SERVICES AND TO BE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS AROUND WHY HITTING
THE VACCINE IS IMPORTANT AND IN
CENTERING STRATEGIES OF HOW TO
EFFECTIVELY PRIORITIZE THE
HARDEST HIT COMMUNITIES SO
THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR YOUR WORK
AND I WITH US AND SHARING THOSE
EXPERIENCES.
WE WILL SHIFT QUICKLY TO DR.
DANIELSON AND AFTER DR.
DANIELSON WE WILL HEAR FROM
JIJI.
DR. DANIELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
I FEEL A SENSE OF WANTING TO
MAKE SURE ALL VOICES HAVE A
CHANCE TO BE HEARD IN THIS AND
I THINK THERE IS A SENSITIVITY
TO TIME.
I WILL TRY TO BUILD ON I GUESS
IT MIGHT BE WORTH MENTIONING
BUT NOT REPEAT TOO MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID AND
CAUTION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I
DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE THE SENSE
OF THE EMPHASIS THAT HAS BEEN
IN THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGES.
I WANT TO SAY IN THE WAYS THAT
WE HEAR MESSAGES FROM BLACK
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES,
THE ISSUE OF TRUST TAKES ON
DIFFERENT LAYERS AT DIFFERENT
LEVELS.
I HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS
FROM A BROADER HOLISTIC
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.
IF WE ARE NOT TAKING INTO
ACCOUNT THE HISTORY OF TUSKEGEE
AND THE OTHER EXPERIENCES MADE
FOR THE REASON TRUST IS SO NOT
PRESENT IN BLACK COMMUNITIES,
WE ARE JUST GOING TO SIT IN
MOMENTS TRYING TO SOLVE CRISIS
PROBLEMS WITHOUT CREATING
SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING, THE
SAME ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP
AROUND TESTING AND PPE
DISTRIBUTION AND OTHER
APPROACHES ARE BEING REPEATED
JUST AS COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
I BELIEVE MENTIONED.
THE CONVERSATION HAS TO STEP UP
AND ABOVE THIS KIND OF CRISIS
OF ISSUE AROUND VACCINATION OR
ELSE ALL OF US WILL GET TIRED
COMING BACK AND TALKING ABOUT
THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE
SAME WAY.
I WONDER HOW WE CAN CHANGE
CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I'M ALSO
DISAPPOINTED BY WATCHING PUBLIC
HEALTH AND OTHER ENTITIES THINK
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THERE IS
A NEED TO EDUCATE US ABOUT WHY
VACCINATIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT
RATHER THAN ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT
HAS HAPPENED IS MY HEALTH
SYSTEM HAS NOT EARNED THE TRUST
OF THE COMMUNITY IT IS SUPPOSED
TO BE SERVING, OUR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM IS UNWORTHY OF BEING
TRUSTED AND THAT IS A FACT AND
WELL GROUNDED.
RATHER THAN BE UNINFORMED, OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE HIGHLY INFORMED,
HIGHLY HISTORICALLY INFORMED,
HIGHLY INFORMED BY THE PRESENT
AND EXPERIENCES THAT ARE SO
RELATIVE TO THE SITUATION WE
CANNOT TRY TO PRETEND THE
HEALTH EDUCATION PROCESS IS
IMPORTANT IN THE AREA OF TRUST,
TRUST IS A SIGNIFICANT IN MANY
PARTS OF THE BLACK UNITY FOR
GOOD REASON, WE SEE PARTIAL
DATA SHOW THINGS LIKE DIRTY
FIVE % OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN
THIS COUNTRY ARE WARY OF
VACCINATION. YOU CAN SEE
RESULTS FROM CDC STUDY IN
JANUARY THROUGH JANUARY NOT
FULL INFORMATION BUT SHOWED
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BLACKS ARE
THREE TIMES LESS LIKELY TO HAVE
BEEN IN THE FIRST ROUND OF
VACCINATIONS THROUGH THE 12
MILLION GIVEN IN JANUARY.
THESE ARE UNDENIABLE ISSUES
ABOUT TRUSTWORTHINESS, NOT
ABOUT INFORMATION.
THE PROCESS WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT I HOPE IS AROUND HOW TO
TAP INTO BROADER AREAS OF
TRUSTING SPACES.
I GUESS MY QUESTION TO THE
COUNCIL HAVING NOT SEEN THE
PROPOSED LANGUAGE IS HOW CAN WE
START TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT
WHAT POWER WE ARE TRANSFERRING
TO COMMUNITIES?
HOW DO WE CREATE LANGUAGE IN
OUR RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATIVE
PROCESSES THAT SAY VERY CLEARLY
HOW POWER IS TRANSFERRED AND
WHETHER THAT IS ADEQUATE. I
HEAR STATEMENTS ABOUT WANTING
TO BE AT TABLES.
I'M SO SICK OF BEING AT TABLES
WHERE THE GAME IS ALREADY SET
AND YOU ARE JUST THEIR
REPRESENTATIONAL HE.
WE TALK ABOUT HAVING VOICE IN
PROCESSES, THAT IS NOT EQUITY,
TRUE BOLD EQUITY IS ACTUALLY US
NAMING THE PROCESSES OURSELVES,
WHEN DO WE START ACTUALLY
MAKING THAT THE INTENTION RATHER
THAN THE MADE FOR EXCEPTION OR
POSSIBLE OCCASION.
WHAT I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED
TO START PRACTICING IS A BOLDER
KIND OF TRUE EQUITY THAT IS
REALLY ACCOUNTABLE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
LANGUAGE OF EVERYONE, ESTHER AND
ABIGAIL, TERESITA , MY SOUL
SISTERS REALLY PROMOTING THIS
KIND OF TALK.
I BEG YOU ONCE AGAIN, NAME THE
POWER YOU ARE SHIFTING TO
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED WHEN
YOU MAKE ANY DECISIONS THAT
IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES MOST AT
RISK FOR THE WORST OUTCOMES FROM
ILLNESSES LIKE THIS.
I THINK THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR
COMMUNITIES TO NAME THEIR OWN
PATH AND COURSE IN THIS.
UNITY CLINICS LIKE BLACK AND
BROWN CHILDREN'S CLINIC FROM
THE CENTRAL AREA, CAROLYN DOWNS
LINICK THAT SERVED COMMUNITIES
FOR FIVE DECADES ARE IMPORTANT
RESOURCES.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAP INTO
COMMUNITY HEALTH BOARDS,
SOMALIA HEALTH BOARD, AFRICAN-
AMERICAN HEALTH BOARD AND OTHER
HEALTH BOARDS THAT HAVE DIRECT
RELEVANCE TO THE FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED.
WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT
THIS IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN OUR
EXPERIENCES WORKING ESPECIALLY
IN THE NORTHWEST IS THAT THESE
DAYS THE APPEARANCE OF EQUITY
HAS BEEN THE WEAKEST BARRIER TO
EQUITY ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN
OUR SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY HEALTH
CARE.
NO MORE REPRESENTATIONAL
EQUITY, NO MORE STATEMENTS
ABOUT EQUITY.
NAME THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE
SHIFTING POWER AND SHOW US AND
BE ACCOUNTABLE TO US FOR THOSE
SHIPS.
>> THANK YOU, DR. DANIELSON.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I CAN
SEE YOUR HAND IS RAISED.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU.
THIS IS A FANTASTIC QUESTION,
DR. DANIELSON.
WHAT IS THE POWER WE ARE
SHIFTING?
I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND SOME
OTHER WORK WE ARE DOING AS A
COUNCIL, WE ARE SHIFTING
PARTICIPANT BUDGETING POWER, WE
HAVE THIS PROCESS WE HAVE SET UP
, WE ARE SETTING UP TO GIVE
COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKING POWER
ABOUT HOW WE SPEND MONEY AS IT
RELATES TO COMMUNITY SAFETY.
IN THIS CONTEXT, WHAT KIND OF
POWER SHIFT, WHAT KIND OF POWER-
SHARING OR SHIFT DO WE NEED TO
BE THINKING ABOUT TO MAKE SURE
COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO NOT JUST
SIT AT A TABLE BUT ACTUALLY
BEING PART OF NAMING THE POWER
THEY NEED AND WANT AND
FACILITATING, HOW DO WE
FACILITATE THAT TRANSFER OF
POWER?
>> WHO WANTS TO TAKE THAT ONE?
ESTHER, DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS
ABOUT THAT?
GO FOR IT.
>> I DO.
I DON'T WANT TO JUMP AHEAD OF
BEN.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS FROZEN.
>> OKAY, I WAS WONDERING.
HE IS EATING VERY STILL SO I
DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS PENSIVE OR
ACTUALLY FROZE ON US.
DR. DANIELSON, ARE YOU STILL
WITH US?
WE MAY HAVE TEMPORARILY LOST
HIM, HOPEFULLY HE WILL SIGN
BACK IN.
WHILE THAT TECHNOLOGICAL GLITCH
IS BEING WORKED THROUGH, WE'RE
HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU, ESTHER.
>> THANK YOU.
I AGREE, DR. DANIELSON SAID WE
ARE SO TIRED OF BEING AT THESE
TABLES BUT NOTHING ACTUALLY
HAPPENS.
I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY
TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES I'M
ON SAYING THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER WITH THE SAME LACK OF
OUTCOMES.
IN ORDER TO TRANSFER POWER, YOU
HAVE TO TRANSFER RESOURCES.
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, I THINK
ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED
IF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
WOULD HAVE HAD EQUITABLE
DISTRIBUTION OF THE VACCINES
WHEN PERCEIVED LOAF TEMPERATURE
FREEZERS INSTEAD OF POTENTIAL
HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ALREADY
EQUIPPED WITH THAT.
AND WOULD'VE RECEIVED FUNDS TO
MAN THE CALL CENTERS, RECEIVE
FUNDS TO ADD STAFFING TO
INCREASE CAPACITY.
AND THEN YOUR ACCESS TO
COMMUNITY IS ALREADY BUILT INTO
WHAT WE DO.
THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE RELATED
TO COVID WE COULD HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY.
AND EACH OF US BE ABLE TO
IMPLEMENT OUR DISTRIBUTION PLANS
THAT ARE MOST MEANINGFL AND
MOST IMPORTANT TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
THAT IS A TRANSFER OF POWER.
IT MEANS YOU CAN'T HAVE A
COUNTY SYSTEM DUPLICATING
EFFORTS TRYING TO REACH OUR
PEOPLE AND HOW DO WE DO IT
BETTER?
YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE RESOURCES
OVER, YOU HAVE TO.
>> THANKS FOR THAT.
OKAY.
I'M NOT SEEING DR. DANIELSON
COME BACK ONLINE YET, STILL
VERY MUCH FROZEN ON THE SCREEN
THAT I CAN SEE.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE
QUESTION POSED BY COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES, ANY OTHER MEMBERS
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE,
THANK YOU FOR THAT, REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR NOW
FROM JIJI.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JIJI JALLY, I'M
MARSHALLESE WOMAN'S ASSOCIATION.
I AM VERY THANKFUL I'M IN THIS
SPACE TO BE SHARING AND TALKING
ABOUT DISTRIBUTION OF THE
VACCINE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ALTHOUGH WE APPRECIATE THE
EFFORTS OF THE MASS VACCINATION
FOR OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT BEEN
SUCCESSFUL AS WE HOPE.
THE PROCESS IS LENGTHY AND
THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION.
I HAVE BEEN HERE MAYBE 20 PLUS,
30 YEARS AND I STILL HAVE A
HARD TIME TRYING TO CLICK HERE
OR THERE AND ALL THAT KIND OF
STUFF.
AS FOR THE OLDER PEOPLE, OUR
SENIORS, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
THESE TECHNOLOGIES, THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT, THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE.
AS COMMUNITY PEOPLE, NOT AN
EXPERT IN ALL OF THAT, WE TRY
TO BREAK IT DOWN AND SEND IT
OUT THERE FOR OUR FOLKS AND SAY
GO HERE.
BY THAT TIME, THERE'S NO MORE
VACCINATION LEFT.
IT IS FULL.
THOSE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS. AS
THE PACIFIC ISLANDER, THEY HAD
A VACCINATION THEY HAD DONATED
WHICH IS WE HAD 150 PEOPLE
VACCINATED IN THE ORGANIZATION,
THEY WERE ALL GATHERING FOR
PACIFIC ISLANDERS TO GET PEOPLE
VACCINATED, LET ME TELL YOU,
OUR PEOPLE, I HAVE TO SAY EVEN
THOUGH WE WERE CALLING THEM
COME OVER HERE, GIVE ME YOUR
NAME AND UNDER NUMBER, THEY
WERE REGISTERING THEM, SO SIMPLE
AS DOING THAT.
THERE WERE FOLKS, WAIT A MINUTE
, WHERE'S THE SET? WILL YOU
GUYS BE THERE?
BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE HAVE
MISTRUST WITH THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT I HAVE TO SAY JUST
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
OUR OLDER FOLKS DON'T REALLY GO
OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY STICK WITH THEIR OWN
PEOPLE.
FAMILIES ALL THE TIME, CHURCHES
WITH THEIR OWN CULTURES.
TO UNDERSTAND THIS, IF ONE OF
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE NOT
REGISTERING FOR THEM, THEY GET
LOST IN THE SYSTEM.
THE WAY THAT PICA, THE PACIFIC
ISLAND COMMUNITY, PUT IT
TOGETHER, IT WAS GREAT.
WE WERE SO HAPPY THERE WERE
NUMBERS, 150 PEOPLE OF PACIFIC
ISLANDERS THAT GOT VACCINATED.
UP TO THE DAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE
CANCELING AT THE LAST MOMENT.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID
THERE IS TRUST AND ALL THAT BUT
HALF OF THE DAY WE HAD PEOPLE
CALLING IN TO SAY, WHEN IS THE
NEXT ONE?
I THINK FOR OUR COMMUNITY IT IS
VERY IMPORTANT, OKAY, YOU WANT
TO GET TESTED, YES.
LET ME KNOW, VACCINATED.
HOW CAN WE DO IT?
YOU KNOW, THESE MASS
VACCINATION PLACES, IT IS REALLY
DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.
YOU KNOW? WITH OUR PEOPLE, LIKE
I SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF TRUST
WITH VACCINATION, WITH OUR
PEOPLE IN 1996 WHEN THEY KIND OF
, YOU KNOW LIKE FORGOT OR
SOMETHING, THEY DID NOT BRING
BACK HEALTHCARE TO OUR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN NAVIGATING FOR
DECADES TRYING TO GET MEDICAL.
FOR OUR PEOPLE, WHEN THE 67
BOMBS WERE TESTED ON OUR
ISLAND, OKAY, COME TO AMERICA,
YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR ALL OF THIS
STUFF THAT YOU CANNOT DO.
AS PEOPLE START TO COME, THEY
HAVE CANCER AND ALL THE
UNDERLYING ISSUES, UNDERLYING
HEALTH ISSUES, THEY ARE TURNED
AWAY OR YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT
ELIGIBLE.
A LOT OF OUR FOLKS HAVE PASSED
AWAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF
THIS STUFF THAT HAS HAPPENED,
HISTORY.
AS THEY TRY TO NAVIGATE THE
HEALTH SYSTEM, THEY DON'T TRUST
THE HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY
SAID THIS, THEY SAY WE QUALIFY
OR NOT QUALIFY, DIFFERENT
STATES, WE ARE LUCKY WASHINGTON
STATE HAS MEDICAL INSURANCE
SINCE I'M NOT SURE, 2018 I THINK
AND DENTAL.
WE SAID WOW, WE CAN GET MEDICAL
FINALLY, HAVE SOME CARE FINALLY.
AS OUR PEOPLE ARE COMING IN,
THEY ARE GOING TO PLACES LIKE
HARBOR VIEW FOR THEIR CHARITY
BECAUSE THEY ARE SICK.
SO ALL OF THIS HEALTHCARE STUFF
IS LIKE BIG QUESTION MARK FOR
OUR FOLKS.
WHEN OUR FOLKS GET THE HIGH
NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING, YOU
KNOW, MULTI GENERATIONAL PEOPLE
THAT LIVE TOGETHER, NOT
UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE.
LANGUAGE BARRIER AND EVERYTHING,
AS MYSELF AND ORGANIZATION,
LOOKING AT HOW OUR PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING WHEN THIS PANDEMIC
IT.
WE WERE GRATEFUL WE BECAME AN
ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS
DIRECTLY TO OUR PEOPLE TO LET
OTHERS KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE GO
THROUGH ANYTHING HAPPENING WITH
OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK SHOULD
DISTRIBUTE VACCINATION,
DISTRIBUTE VACCINES TO
COMMUNITY CENTERS OR SOMETHING
WE RECOGNIZE, YOU KNOW.
FAMILIAR FACES, I HAD
MARSHALLESE FOLKS CALL ME TO
MAKE SURE I WAS THERE AT THE
VACCINE SPACE.
TO HELP THEM AND I HELPED
INTERPRET FOR SOME.
BUT EVEN WITH PACIFIC ISLAND
THING THAT WAS THERE, THERE IS
STILL RESERVE, THEY STILL
CANCEL AT THE LAST MOMENT, YOU
KNOW, AND ALL THAT.
I'M GLAD BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME
ABLE TO GET THE VACCINES.
AND HOW DO WE KEEP BUILDING
THAT TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY
SO THEY CAN GET VACCINE?
YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THIS CLICK
HERE, CLICK THERE, LINK THERE,
IT IS CONFUSING.
I MYSELF AM IN CONFUSION.
WITH THE LANGUAGE, IT IS NOT
THERE FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES
AND FOR OUR PEOPLE.
WE HELPED THEM, TRIED TO HELP
THEM BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE IS
ISSUE WITH THIS VACCINATION
DISTRIBUTION.
I REVIEWED THE VIDEOS, HOW CAN
WE REALLY ADDRESS OUR
COMMUNITIES? HOW CAN WE HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND IT?
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE SPACES I
COME INTO, I TRY TO ADVOCATE
FOR OUR PEOPLE.
TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALLY
GOING ON WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW.
AS A PERSON WHO TRIES TO
ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY, I'M
IN SPACES MORE, THERE IS
LANGUAGE COMING OUT AS A
CULTURAL NAVIGATOR WITH THEM,
PUBLIC HEALTH, I APPRECIATE
THAT BECAUSE I'M IN THERE AND I
GET WORDS OR WHATEVER I GET TO
ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY ISSUES.
BUT IT TOOK A PANDEMIC FOR THE
HELP WE ARE GETTING NOW.
IT IS KIND OF SAD, LIKE I SAID.
THE TRUST WITH OUR PEOPLE AND
THEIR HISTORY HAS ALL OF THESE
BARRIERS. SO AS RESIDENTS OF
WASHINGTON, I THINK WITH THE
HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL AND NOW
FINALLY THEY PASSED MEDICAID
FOR ALL, ALL OF THE COFA PEOPLE
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, WE ARE
FINALLY THERE.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT EXACTLY
WHAT IT IS WITH OUR FOLKS.
THERE IS THE TRUST AND KNOWING
PEOPLE THERE, THEY WOULD GO.
ALL OF THESE MASS VACCINATION
PLACES, AT THE PICA WHEN THEY
WERE DOING IT, THEY HAD PEOPLE
LINED UP, WHEELCHAIRS, PEOPLE
SITTING IN THEIR CARS.
RESTROOMS OPEN, THOSE THINGS,
THOSE COMFORT THE COMMUNITY OF
WHERE WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO
DO WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND
RESPECT OUR ELDERS AND HOW WE
TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERS.
YOU KNOW, SO I'M THANKFUL TO BE
IN THIS SPACE MY MOTHER WILL BE
80 IN MAY AND SHE LIVES IN
ANOTHER STATE.
SHE HAS NOT TAKEN HER FIRST
VACCINE.
SHE CAN'T GET IT ANYWHERE,
SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET IT.
SHE HAS NOT GOTTEN HER FIRST
ONE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO
REGISTER AND EVERYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE
OR HOW IT CAN BE BETTER PICK
I'M WORRIED, SHOULD I BRING HER
TO WASHINGTON TO SEE IF I CAN
GET HER HERE, SHE IS NOT GOTTEN
ANYTHING TO BE VACCINATED, THE
FIRST ONE.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
HAVING ME IN THIS SPACE.
>> THANK YOU, JIJI FOR SHARING
AND BEING WITH US TODAY.
THE LAST PANELIST IS --.
I WILL LET GO FIRST.
>> IT IS AND THE ZOOM FEATURE,
SORRY.
>> I DON'T HAVE MY HAND UP.
IT IS A HOLDOVER.
>> NO WORRIES.
TRANG, GO FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER TODAY,
I'M TRANG AND THE SOUL AND
PRIMARY CAREGIVER FOR MY
ELDERLY MOTHER WHO LIVES WITH ME
AND HAS DEMENTIA REQUIRING 24
HOUR CARE.
WELL OF ELSTON FELT IT CANNOT
GET MORE CHALLENGING, COVID HAS
MADE IT MORE SO.
TO KEEP HER SAFE, I HAVE STRICT
QUENCHING FROM THE START, HIRED
OUTSIDE HELP FROM OTHER FAMILY
AND GIVEN UP MOST OF MY WORK.
ABOVE ALL, KNOWING IF SHE WAS
INFECTED WE WOULD LIKELY LOSE
HER HAS TERRIFIED ME.
I'VE KNOWN THE ENDGAME FOR HER
IN THE PATH TO FIND SOME RELIEF
WOULD BE IN THE VACCINE.
THAT PATH HAS COME WITH MANY
CHALLENGES WHICH MANY COMMUNITY
MEMBERS HAVE HAD TO MOBILIZE
AND FIGHT FOR.
FROM RAISING AWARENESS THAT
IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE MORE
LIKELY TO CARE FOR OTHERS AT
HOME IN INTERGENERATIONAL
HOUSEHOLDS WITH ADDED RISK AND
BURDENS THAT ENTAILS TO NOW
FACING BARRIERS AND INEQUITIES
AND ACTUALLY ACCESSING VACCINE.
TO BE CLEAR, WE KNOW SUPPLY IS
CONSTRAINED EVERYWHERE.
THE PROBLEM IS THE IMPACT OF
THAT HASN'T BEEN HE WILL.
THOSE WITH TECHNOLOGY, ENGLISH
FLUENCY, TIME, TRANSPORTATION,
AND OTHER RESOURCES HAVE MORE
EASILY ACCESS TO VACCINES WHILE
THOSE WITHOUT ARE OFTEN SHUT OUT
MADE WORSE BY INCIDENCE OF
VACCINE FAVORITISM WE HAVE SEEN.
FOR MY MOTHER AND ME, THIS HAS
BEEN CHALLENGING AND WE
ACTUALLY HAVE SOME RESOURCES.
SHE HAS ME AND I SPEAK ENGLISH,
HAVE INTERNET AND A CAR.
I THINK ABOUT OTHERS, OUR
FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO DON'T.
I APPRECIATE WHAT OUR PUBLIC
LEADERS HAVE DONE TO ADVANCE
EQUITY INCLUDING THE STATE
PRIORITIZING ELDERS AND HOME
CARE AND COUNTY AND CITY
LEADERS DOING TARGETED WORK TO
INCREASE ACCESS BUT SO MUCH
MORE IS NEEDED.
RIGHT NOW, THE FOCUS ON SPD
AND SCALE AND DELIVERY COMES AT
THE COST OF SACRA FACING EQUITY
AND FAIRNESS IF THERE IS NOT
INTENTIONALITY ABOUT HANGING
ONTO EQUITY VALUES.
RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS HERE TODAY,
I WOULD URGE YOU TO TAKE THE
FOLLOWING ACTIONS TO ENSURE
EQUITY POLICIES ARE ACTUALLY
REFLECTED AND PRACTICED.
ONE, RIGHT NOW, LEVEL THE
PLAYING FIELD FOR THOSE WITH
THE GREATEST BARRIERS TO ACCESS
INCLUDING UPGRADING DIO HS
PROVIDE A TOOL THAT HAS REAL-
TIME UPDATES.
CREATING CENTRALIZED WAITLIST
FOR INDIVIDUAL SEEKING VACCINES
OR URGE OR MANDATE PROVIDERS
ESPECIALLY THE LARGE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS TO USE IT TO PRIORITIZE
IT.
CLARIFY FACE FINDER, SIMPLIFY
THE LANGUAGE AS KING COUNTY HAS
DONE OR PERHAPS BETTER, REMOVING
AND MAKING THIS CLEAR TO THE
PUBLIC.
PROVIDE ORGANIZATIONS EARLY
ACCESS TO SIGN-UPS AT MASS
VACCINATION SITES.
PARTNER WITH FUNDS, SUPPLY AND
EMPOWER COMMUNITY LED
VACCINATION WORK AS WE HEARD
FROM OTHER PANELISTS TODAY.
COLLECT RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA
OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINATED
AND USE IT TO ENSURE EQUITABLE
ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE ROLLOUT.
AND SECOND, A LITTLE BIT LONGER
TERM, HARVEST THE LESSONS AND
IMPROVE THE SYSTEM FOR NEXT BE
PROACTIVE DURING PLANNING,
THINK THROUGH THE SPECIFICS OF
HOW EQUITY WILL BE
OPERATIONALIZED AT EVERY STEP
AND INSTITUTIONALIZES SO WHEN
THE NEXT CRISIS,, IT IS NOT
THIS MAD REACTIVE SCRAMBLE TO
BUILD THE EQUITY PLANE AND TRY
TO FLY IT AT THE SAME TIME.
RELATED TO THAT, BE THOUGHTFUL
ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS
DR. DANIELSON SPOKE TO.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO
GIVE AND PUT ALL THE TIME AND
IT GETS EXHAUSTING.
IS IMPORTANT THE INPUT BE USED
IN SERVICE TO SYSTEM CHANGE,
NOT TO ENABLE CHRONIC SYSTEM
FAILURE TO EXECUTE ON EQUITY.
MY HOPE EQUITY WILL BECOME SO
INGRAINED IN THE DNA OF THE WORK
THERE WILL BE NO TRADE-OFF
BETWEEN SPD AND FAIRNESS , THEY
ARE PART AND PARCEL OF EVERYONE
BEING SERVED EQUITABLY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TRANG FOR THAT
TESTIMONY, REALLY POWERFUL AND
IMPORTANT.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
FOR OUR PANELISTS HERE?
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYBODY
WHO PRESENTED TODAY.
AND I'M STRUCK BY SORT OF THE
HISTORIC LEGACY OF UNDERFUNDING
AND UNDER RESOURCED INEQUITIES
WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES
FOR CENTURIES AND DECADES AS
PEOPLE MENTIONED TODAY.
I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD ALSO TALK
ABOUT HOW PUBLIC HEALTH AS AN
ENTITY HAS ALSO SORT OF BEEN
UNDER RESOURCED HISTORICALLY AS
WELL.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS SOME
LEGACY WORK WE SHOULD DO IN
THAT RESPECT, PUBLIC HEALTH,
HEALTHY WATER SYSTEMS AND
MAKING SURE WE HAVE ACCESS TO
CLEAN AIR AND HEALTHY FOOD, ALL
OF THE SORT OF THINGS YOU DON'T
SEE ON A DAILY BASIS, THEY HAVE
BEEN UNDERFUNDED DECADE AFTER
DECADE.
WORKING IN PUBLIC HEALTH, YOU
ALL STEPPED INTO HER ROLE THAT
HAS BEEN MARGINALLY
DECENTRALIZED AND CREATED MORE
AND MORE OF A SKELETON OF WHAT
SHOULD BE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT
CREATES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE ARE SOME
PARALLELS WE SHOULD BE LIFTING
UP ABOUT HOW WE INVEST IN
PUBLIC HEALTH AND DEMANDING
MORE EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IN DOING SO BUT RECOGNIZING OUR
COUNTRY HAS ALSO STEPPED AWAY
FROM TRADITIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH
AND HOW THAT IS COMPOUNDING THE
CRISIS WE SEE NOW AND AS DR.
DANIELSON TALKED ABOUT AND MANY
OF YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT, THE
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WE SEE
WITHIN OUR OWN HEALTH SYSTEMS
IS ONLY COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF
INVESTMENT IN OUR FRONT-LINE
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, THOSE
WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICES
DIRECTLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
THE FACT PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN
DISMANTLED OVER TIME.
I FEEL IT WAS INTENTIONAL AS
WELL IN SOME REGARDS.
I'M WONDERING IF FOLKS HAD A
CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT THAT, ANY
THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ABOUT THAT AS
WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO DEMAND
MORE RESOURCES AND GETTING BACK
TO THE GROUND WOULD BE HELPFUL.
ABIGAIL, I CAN SEE YOU, I'M
SURE YOU HAVE ELOQUENT THOUGHTS
WITH US.
I'M STRUGGLING WITH THAT
HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT AND
DECENTRALIZATION OF PUBLIC
HEALTH AS WELL IN ALL OF THIS.
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL QUESTION AND
NECESSARY ONE, ESPECIALLY
UNDERSTANDING THE REASON WE
WERE NOT PREPARED FOR A
PANDEMIC WAS BECAUSE OF THE
CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING OF THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, EVEN
THOUGH FOLKS LIKE MYSELF HAVE
BEEN DOING THIS MORE THAN 20
YEARS, I CAN SEE SOME FOLKS ON
THE CALL DOING THE SAME, WE
HAVE SAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO
HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T FUND US
CORRECTLY.
AND IT HAPPENED.
WE ARE FORTUNATE IN WASHINGTON
STATE BECAUSE UNLIKE MANY OTHER
STATES, VERY RECENTLY THERE WAS
INVESTMENT IN FOUNDATIONAL
PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS AT THE
WASHINGTON STATE LEVEL.
AS A RESULT OF THAT AND PART OF
THAT GOING TO THE URBAN INDIAN
PROGRAMS, TRIBAL CENTERS, MY
TEAM AND I HAVE DIVIDED SUPPORT
TO SEVEN URBAN INDIAN PROGRAMS
INCLUDING FOUR IN KING COUNTY
AND SEVERAL OTHERS IN SPOKANE
COUNTY WHERE THEY GET UPDATES
ON AT LEAST BIWEEKLY IF NOT
MONTHLY UPDATE ON COVID-19 IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES, LOOKING AT
THE MOST RECENT DATA AND
INFORMATION BOTH TO INFORM
THEIR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES AND
THEIR ADVOCACY.
WHAT IF THAT EXISTED FOR ALL
THE OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS WHERE TALKING TO? THEY
PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE SAME
ACCESS BECAUSE I'M ONLY SERVING
THE URBAN INDIAN PROGRAMS.
THAT IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU KNOW, $250,000 I'M GETTING
FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,
EVEN THOUGH WE PASSED AND SAW
THE INVESTMENT PASS AT THE
STATE LEVEL, IT STILL WASN'T
NEARLY ENOUGH.
UNTIL WE ALLOCATE THE PROPER
RESOURCES TO REVAMP, RESTORE,
AND TO BUILD UP PUBLIC HEALTH
SYSTEMS THAT WHITE
COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ SAID
MIRROR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES,
I FEEL WE WILL NOT SEE SUCCESS.
IN THE NEXT PANDEMIC WE WILL
EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THERE WILL
BE ANOTHER ONE, THIS IS NOT A
ONE AND DONE KIND OF THING.
THERE WILL BE OTHER INSTANCES
LIKE THAT.
WHEN I SAY INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES, WE SAY PUBLIC
HEALTH, IT COMES FROM A WESTERN
CONCEPT OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION
CREATED PUBLIC HEALTH.
NO, THE REASON 70 % OF NATIVE
PEOPLE MAKE THE DECISION TO GET
VACCINATED BASED ON THE
RESPONSIBILITIES TO FAMILY,
COMMUNITY, AND TRIBE IS BECAUSE
THAT IS WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS,
ABOUT SEEING INDIVIDUAL
RESPONSIBILITIES CONTRIBUTE TO
THE WHOLE OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS WHAT I WISH EVERY OTHER
COMMUNITY WAS DOING BECAUSE IN
INDIAN COUNTRY WHICH WE CALL
ALL OF THE UNITED STATES,
NATIVE PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO
WEAR MASKS TO GET VACCINATED,
SOCIAL DISTANCE, SELF
QUARANTINE.
TRIBES INCLUDING IN WASHINGTON
STATE WERE THE FIRST TO
IMPLEMENT PUBLIC HEALTH
MEASURES LIKE THAT.
WHEN WE REBUILD THAT VALUE
SYSTEM AND RECOGNIZING IT DID
NOT START WITH WESTERN PUBLIC
HEALTH BUT STARTED WITH THE
FIRST PEOPLES OF THIS LAND AND
RESTORE THIS IDEA OF COMMUNITY
WHICH HAS TO HAVE THE
INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES.
WASHINGTON STATE WAS A LITTLE
BIT AHEAD BUT WE NEED MUCH MUCH
MORE IF WE ARE TRULY GOING TO
ADDRESS ALL OF THESE INEQUITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS,
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT, FOR BRINGING THE
PANEL TOGETHER.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO
MUCH TIME, I WANT TO SAY THANK
YOU TO EVERYONE PRESENTING.
I'VE BEEN TAKING NOTES AS YOU
ARE SPEAKING TO YOU HAVE SOME
GREAT LEADERS HERE.
COUNCIL, WHO PUT THE PANEL
TOGETHER, IF THERE'S ANYTHING I
CAN DO TO HELP YOU, DON'T
HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME.
JUST TAKING A MOMENT TO SAY
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
OKAY FRIENDS, I THINK WE ARE
WRAPPING UP WITH THE AGENDA, I
WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE
GRATITUDE FOR BEING HERE BUT
FOR DOING ALL THE WORK YOU
CONTINUE TO DO WITH COMMUNITY.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT, NOT JUST IN
AND DURING A PANDEMIC BUT
BEYOND THAT. AS COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS ASTUTELY OBSERVED
THAT THE HISTORIC FAILURES TO
ADEQUATELY INVEST IN THE HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY
IS COMING TO ROOST RIGHT NOW IN
THE LOSS OF LIVES FOR MANY OF
US TO THIS PANDEMIC AS A RESULT
OF THAT INTENTIONAL FAILURE TO
INVEST IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
DESIGNED BY US AND FOR US.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK
YOU ALL ARE DOING TO CONTINUE
TO GIVE VOICE TO PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HISTORICALLY, WHOSE VOICES
ARE HISTORICALLY HEARD IN THESE
POWERFUL SYSTEMS AND TO KNOW
THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK FOR US
TO DO.
I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO NOT
ONLY RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
FEEDBACK FROM COUNCILMEMBERS ON
THE RESOLUTION BUT WITH YOUR
PERMISSION WOULD LOVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT WITH
YOU ALL AND HAVE YOU TAKE A
LOOK AT WHAT IMPROVEMENTS AND
ACTION ITEMS WE CAN PUT IN THE
RESOLUTION THAT WILL HELP US AS
A CITY MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO
BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THESE EQUITY
GOALS AND WOULD LOVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE WITH ALL OF YOU OFF-LINE
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST
ROBUST VERSION OF THE
RESOLUTION WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE
FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION
NEXT WEEK.
OKAY FOLKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING WITH US.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AND
LISTEN TO THE NEXT PANEL.
I KNOW WE HAD YOU HERE FOR A
LONG TIME AND I KNOW YOU HAVE
IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.
OUTSIDE OF THE CALL SO YOU ARE
WELCOME TO DISCONNECT AS WELL.
WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION TO
THE SECOND PANEL.
>>> GO AHEAD AND READ ITEM 2
INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION FOR
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION,
GOVERNMENT ROUNDTABLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW WE ARE STARTING TO LOSE
PANELISTS HERE.
I AM GOING TO, INSTEAD OF DOING
THE ROUND ROBIN, I WILL SORT
OF: FOLKS AND HAVE YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND MAKE
YOUR REMARKS.
I GOT A NOTE THAT MATTIAS FROM
THE SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH WILL HAVE TO LEAVE
SHORTLY SO I'M HOPING TO GET
HIM IN UNDER THE WIRE IF THAT'S
OKAY WITH YOU, WOULD YOU MIND
MAKING SOME COMMENTS AT THE TOP
HERE?
>> SURE.
>> PERFECT.
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF
AND TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ.
I'M MATIAS VALENZUELA, DIRECTOR
OF COMMUNITY OF THE PARTNERSHIP
OF EQUITABLE PUBLIC HEALTH
SEATTLE KING COUNTY.
AS I LISTEN, BEFORE I SAY MY
COMES, ACKNOWLEDGE THE POWER
AND TRUTHS OF THE VOICES JUST
STATED.
I THINK THOSE VOICES PLUS DATA
THE AGGREGATED DATA SHOULD BE
DRIVING PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH.
PLUS, THE LEARNING, I THINK I
LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THINGS
HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN AND
WILL DITTO THAT, I THINK WHEN
WE LEARN THINGS, WE LEARN
THINGS FROM TESTING, WE NEED TO
BE ABLE TO NOT REPLICATE THE
SAME MISSTEPS THAT HAD HAPPENED
EARLIER. IN KING COUNTY'S
APPROACH TO VACCINATION, I
BELIEVE THESE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT CONTROL RUNNING OR OTHER
TIMES AS PARTNERS OF HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS, THERE IS WORK HAPPENING
WITH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM,
PHARMACIES, EMPLOYER-BASED, OUR
EFFORTS ARE MORE MASS
VACCINATION SITES AND POP-UP
SITES AND LOCAL VACCINATIONS
WHICH MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY
ARE AT.
IT HAS BEEN REALLY CRITICAL AND
WE ARE HEARING THE SAME THING
THROUGH OUR CHANNELS ABOUT THE
POP-UP AND MOBILE VACCINATIONS
AND MANY PEOPLE EVEN AT THEIR
HOME IS WHERE IT IS MOST
POWERFUL.
ESPECIALLY WITH SYSTEMS THAT
CREATED THE STRESS ON
POPULATIONS, ASKING THEM TO GO
TO PLACES AND RIGHT NOW WITH 65
AND 75 OVER POPULATIONS,
CHALLENGES AND THINGS, PEOPLE
WANT TO GO WHERE THEY FEEL
WELCOMED AND WE DON'T
NECESSARILY WANT TO
RETRAUMATIZED FOLKS.
IN COVID-19 ERIC, I'M LEADING
AS COMMUNITY EDUCATION RECOVER,
THE NONPHARMACEUTICAL
INTERVENTION PROVIDING GUIDANCE
TO BUSINESSES AND OTHERS. MASK
WEARING, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
NOW OUR MAIN FOCUS OF WORK IS
VACCINATION.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE TEAMS AND ARE
WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND
CHILDCARE AND SMALL BUSINESSES,
OLDER ADULTS, IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES, CBO'S, FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE REGULARLY SHARING WITH
LARGE NETWORKS INFORMATION
GUIDANCE, WEBINARS,
CONFERENCES.
THIS LAST WEEK WE HAD
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE WITH
ABOUT 100 PARTICIPANTS FOCUSED
ON VACCINES IN WHICH REALLY
LISTEN TO COMMUNITY AND ALSO
PROVIDED ANSWERS, I WILL
ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS
THAT EXISTED.
WE ALSO CONTINUED TO TRANSLATE
INTO 33 LANGUAGES REALLY FOR NOW
AS WE MOVE INTO VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION AND THE EFFORT, WE
REALLY TRY TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION SO PEOPLE MAKE THE
DECISION THEY FEEL IS BEST.
WE HAVE A GROUP FOCUSING ON
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE DEVELOPED
WORKGROUPS, WE KNOW YOU CAN'T
HAVE ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A GROUP
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND
LISTENING SESSION, WE USED BLUE
VACCINATION AS OPPORTUNITY TO
LEARN ON THOSE ACTIVITIES,
PROVIDED BY BLACK EMPLOYEES AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL.
NOW WE ARE WORKING AROUND
POTENTIAL POP-UP CLINICS, AS
MORE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE.
RESOURCES ADVISORY GROUP,
DIFFERENT SECTORS INCLUDING
BUSINESS, HALF OF THOSE ARE FROM
COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE PLEASURE
OF ALSO HAVING ESTHER BE PART
OF THAT GROUP.
IT IS REALLY A GROUP THAT
GUIDES DECISIONS AND POLICIES,
EVEN AS WE ROLL THINGS OUT OR
TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES OR HOW WE
WORK WITH THAT GROUP TO PROVIDE
INPUT TO US.
WE ALSO STARTED, THIS IS
SOMETHING WE DID NOT HAVE, AND
OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
LIAISONS, WE NAVIGATED A
PROGRAM WITH ABOUT 30 COMMUNITY
NAVIGATORS ACROSS COMMUNITIES
WITH THE MOST IMPACT.
WORKING FOR EXAMPLE VERY
CLOSELY WITH JIJI ON THIS CALL
AND THE HEALTH GROUPS AND
WE HAVE BEEN GRANTING FUNDS TO
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS LEADERS,
THE LAST PART OF THIS WAS 46
GRAMS FOR $10,000 TO COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS KNOWING THEY ARE
REALLY THE ONES TRUSTED AND
WILL BE THE ONES TO BE THE
MESSENGERS AND LISTENERS AND
ABLE TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY.
THE ONE SLIDE I HAVE HERE IS ON
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AROUND
EQUITY AND VACCINE DELIVERY.
WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED OUR OWN
TWO MASS VACCINATION SITES.
ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IN SOUTH
KING COUNTY, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE ARE DOING TOO IS PUTTING
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, I
KNOW FOLKS ARE VERY AWARE OF
SOME OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE
SOME PROVIDERS OFFER
PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO SOME
GROUPS AND POPULATIONS AND
OTHER CLIENTS.
AS WE GO INTO THESE, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THE PRINCIPLES WE ARE
FOLLOWING AND THE COMMITMENT TO
THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WASN'T
JUST PUBLIC-HEALTH COMMITMENT
BUT ALSO BY THE HEALTHCARE
SECTOR AND HOSPITALS AND SOME
OF THE BIG BUSINESSES. WE HAVE
BEEN APPROACHED I THINK LIKE
OTHERS FROM THE STATE, YOU SEE
SEATTLE AND OTHER BUSINESSES
THAT WANT TO WORK WITH US.
WE WANT TO DO THAT AND HAVE
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WE
NEED TO BE ON BOARD WITH US
AROUND THESE PRINCIPLES WE HAVE
HERE, ESPECIALLY BEGINNING BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPACT OF THE
PORTIONS OF WASTE IN OUR REGION
AND NATIONALLY, LIKE REMOVING
BARRIERS LIKE THAT ACCESS YOU
SEE THERE.
I THINK IT WAS DR. DANIELSON
WHO TALKED ABOUT THIS, HAD
REFRAMED THIS SO IT IS NOT
AROUND BLAMING THE INDIVIDUAL
AND ACTUALLY ADDRESSING
MISTRUST HAS BEEN CREATED BY
PAST PRACTICES.
NUMBER TWO IS CREATING INCLUSIVE
PROCESS SO REALLY WORKING AND
AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR THE
COMMUNITY, CONTINUOUSLY
EMPLOYED COMMITMENT TO FIGHT FOR
KANG AND ANTIRACIST WORK.
HOW DO WE USE THE DATA TO DRIVE
OUR DECISIONS AND WHERE WE HAVE
OUR POP-UP CLINICS AND WHERE WE
PUT OUR EFFORTS AND
CONTINUOUSLY SHOWING, WE NOW
HAVE IT DASHBOARD HOW WE ARE
DOING BY AGE, GEOGRAPHY AND
RACE AND CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT
AND USING THAT TO SEND TO GUIDE
HOW WE ARE DOING THIS.
IN TERMS OF PRINCIPLES AND
ACTIONS, THESE ARE VERY
CONCRETE STEPS, BEST PRACTICES,
THINGS WE KNOW THAT WORK.
FOR EXAMPLE, WORKING WITH
COMMUNITIES ON SOME POP-UP
CLINICS OR MASS VACCINATION,
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ABLE
TO DO IS WE HAVE GIVEN COMMUNITY
NAVIGATORS ADVANCE NOTICE OF,
THE ABILITY TO PREREGISTER
FOLKS.
OPENING SOMETHING UP SO
EVERYONE REGISTERS AT THE SAME
TIME, THAT IS A CHALLENGE OR
HOW WE ACTUALLY DO IT OPEN IT
TO PARTICULAR ZIP CODES WHERE
WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN
CHALLENGES OR HIGHER IMPACTS IN
TERMS OF COVID-19.
CONTINUING TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE SECOND
BULLET. CONTINUE TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, THE
ADVISORY GROUP, I THINK
REGISTRATION IS A BIG ISSUE
RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE WORKING TO A MODEL TO
HAVE A PHONE CENTER THAT CAN
PROVIDE COMPLETE SERVICE.
WE JUST HEARD JIJI TALKING
ABOUT THE CHALLENGE OF GETTING
ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP,
GETTING TRANSPORTATION AND ALL
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE DIGITAL
WIDE ISSUES OF THIS FOR PEOPLE
THAT HAVE DISABILITIES AND ALL
THOSE CHALLENGES WE KNOW FOR
EXAMPLE, HAVING A FULL-SERVICE
PHONE CENTER WE ARE TRYING TO
WORK ON WILL BE AS WE OPEN IT
UP TO MORE INDIVIDUALS, WE NEED
TO REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS.
ALSO MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE WHEN
PEOPLE NEED IT AND WHEN THEY
ARE AVAILABLE SO EVENINGS AND
WEEKENDS, ADDRESSING STATE
TRANSPORTATION AVAILABILITY
ISSUES.
AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND
TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION
AT THE SITES AS WELL.
THAT IS IT FOR ME AND THANKS
FOR INVITING ME TO THIS.
I REALLY ENJOYED THE
CONVERSATION AND I THINK THERE
IS A TRUE COMMITMENT IN TERMS
OF LISTENING TO WHAT THE GROUPS
HERE HAVE BEEN SAYING,
COMMUNITY WORK WITH EVERYBODY.
AS WE KNOW, THIS IS THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT I THINK PUBLIC
HEALTH CHALLENGE WE HAVE HAD IN
THE LAST CENTURY.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE
THE OUTCOMES WE HAVE BEEN
SEEING SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MATIAS FOR BEING
WITH US AND THAT PRESENTATION.
I KNOW YOU ARE RUNNING A LITTLE
LATE TO ANOTHER COMMITMENT YOU
HAD AT 4:00 SO I APPRECIATE YOU
HANGING IN TO WALK US THROUGH
THIS INFORMATION.
COLLEAGUES, IF IT'S OKAY,
MATIAS , IF THERE ARE ONE OR
TWO QUESTIONS FOR MY COLLEAGUES
AND YOU HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO
TAKE THOSE, I WOULD APPRECIATE
IT.
GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, AND IT QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR MATIAS ? I'M NOT
SEEING ANY HANDS RAISED.
OKAY.
MATIAS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
WITH USAND REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU , YOUR CONTINUING
WILLINGNESS TO SIT HERE WITH
OPEN MIND ON LISTENING TO SOME
COMMUNITY VOICES.
THERE WAS SOME I WOULD SAY
CRITICISM OF HOW OUR COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ON THE LINE ARE
FEELING LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP
IS GOING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
RIGHT NOW AND WOULD BE VERY
MUCH INTERESTED CONTINUING TO
HAVE CONVERSATIONS AS A PARTNER
IN THIS AREA TO TRY TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE RESOLVING THROUGH
ACTION.
SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS WE HEARD
EXPRESSED IN THIS COMMITTEE
HEARING TODAY AND I KNOW THEY
HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING IN OTHER
VENUES AS WELL SO LOOK FORWARD
TO THOSE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS.
>> SO DO I. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, DID
YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> YOU CAN READ MY MIND THROUGH
THE ZOOM.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I DID WANT TO SAY THANKS TO
MATIAS AND THE TEAM AT PUBLIC
HEALTH.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK
RECENTLY AND I KNOW THE FOLKS
FROM OUR SEATTLE DELEGATION
WORKED ON SINCE THE OUTREACH
ARE ALSO LISTENING TO THIS
PRESENTATION TODAY KNOWING MANY
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE
PRESENTED THIS MORNING ARE ALSO
PART OF OUR COMMUNITIES TRY TO
DO EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO GET
INFORMATION OUT TO FOLKS ABOUT
CENSUS.
WE HAVE THESE OPEN NETWORKS AND
THE FOLKS FROM ICHS AND SEAMAR
AND OTHERS HAVE SAID, THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY NET AND
WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR
BOTH THE TRUST THEY HAVE
ALREADY BUILT IN COMMUNITY AND
THAT ASK MANY OF US IN
GOVERNMENT HAVE PUT OUT TO THEM
IN THE PAST TO BE PART OF OUR
AMBASSADORS AND TO CARRY
MESSAGES TO COMMUNITY.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
REALLY RESONATED WITH ME TODAY
IS THIS IS NOT ABOUT EDUCATING
PEOPLE AS TO WHY THE VACCINES
ARE IMPORTANT, THIS IS
RECOGNIZING WHY FOLKS ARE
HESITANT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
GOVERNMENT GENERALLY AND REALLY
TRYING TO MEET THEM THERE.
YOU HAD IMPORTANT INFORMATION
LISTENING TO WHAT ABIGAIL SAID
ABOUT THE WORK SHE HAS DONE AND
OTHERS HAVE DONE TO TRANSLATE
THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE IT INTO
WHAT REALLY RESONATES WITH
FOLKS I THINK WAS A SAILING
POINT FROM THIS MORNING'S
CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO LET THAT UP BECAUSE I
KNOW YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME
WORKING ON MATERIALS AND WORKED
WITH FOLKS GOING FORWARD.
I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT ANY
OF THE CONVERSATIONS YOU ALL
ARE HAVING ABOUT VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE I THINK
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING PEOPLE LIFTED UP TODAY.
AS WE DEAL WITH THE LAST LACK
OF VACCINE DEALING WITH
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AND
ENGAGEMENT AND MEETING FOLKS
WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERTISE, THESE FOLKS
ALREADY IN COMMUNITY AND TRY TO
PULL THAT IN MORE WAS A HELPFUL
PRESENTATION TO HERE THIS
MORNING, AT LEAST FOR ME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FUTURE
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT
THAT OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
LANE AND REALLY PULLING IN WHAT
WAS DISCUSSED THIS MORNING AND
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK ON
THAT.
ON BEHALF OF KING COUNTY, I
LOOK FORWARD TO DOING MORE WITH
YOU ALL AT CITY HALL AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I DO TOO.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SUMMITS, MATIAS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO RUN SO THANK
YOU FOR BEING WITH US A LITTLE
BIT LONGER.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT . WE WILL
MOVE OVER NOW TO STEPHANIE
KANG, WHO IS WITH US FROM
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL'S
OFFICE.
WE WILL HEAR FROM STEPHANIE
REALLY QUICKLY AROUND THE
FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE AND AFTER
STEPHANIE WE WILL HEAR FROM PAJ
AND JOACHIM AND CUC VU.
WE WANT THE COMMUNITY VOICE
ASPECT OF THE AGENDA TODAY SO
I DO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE TO
OUR FRIENDS OVER AT OIRA ON THE
LAST AGENDA ITEM ON TODAY'S
AGENDA, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET
THE REPORT OUT ON OIRA, WE
PROMISE TO HAVE YOU BACK AND
HEAR THAT REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION.
FOR NOW, LET'S HEAR FROM
STEPHANIE AND WE WILL SHIFT
OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND CONCLUDE WITH
DIRECTOR JOAQUIN UY.
STEPHANIE.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS.
I WAS TALKING LAST NIGHT, A LOT
OF INTENTIONALITY WAS WHO YOU
BROUGHT INTO THIS CONVERSATION
AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SUCH A CRITICAL CONVERSATION TO
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE ARE SEEING HEADLINE
AFTER HEADLINE AROUND VACCINE
EQUITY.
I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN MADE
REALLY CLEAR TODAY IS WE ARE
TIRED OF RHETORIC.
WHAT CAN REALLY BE DONE RIGHT
NOW AND WHAT WE NEED TO RECKON
WITH FOR THE FUTURE.
HI, EVERYONE.
I'M STEPHANIE KANG, ON THE
HEALTH POLICY DIRECTOR FOR
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL
FOR THE WASHINGTON SENATE.
I HAVE MY DOCTORATE IN PUBLIC
HEALTH AS WELL AS MY MASTERS IN
GLOBAL HEALTH SO COMING FROM
THIS PUBLIC HEALTH LENS AND
POLICY LENS WHEN IT COMES TO
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, I WANTED
TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF UPDATES
OF WHAT IS HAPPENING
SPECIFICALLY WITH IN OUR OFFICE
AND SHARE LITTLE COMMENTARY ON
WHAT THE APPROACH AND THOUGHT
PROCESS HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY
AROUND THE VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION.
FIRST, I WANTED TO FLAG THIS
WEEK WE WILL SEND OUT A LETTER
TO HHS IN CONNECTION WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN DEL BENNY.
THIS IS AROUND THOSE EGREGIOUS
STORIES WE HAVE SEEN HAPPENING
IN HOSPITALS IN THE PUGET SOUND
AREA, AROUND HOSPITALS ALLOWING
SPECIAL ACCESS AND INVITATIONS
TO BOARD MEMBERS, DONORS, GIVE
THE VACCINE EARLY, I KNOW THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PUT OUT
GUIDELINES AND EXPLICIT BAN ON
SPECIAL ACCESS BUT THIS DOES
NOT EXIST ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THIS LETTER WILL BE TO THE HHS,
THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
TO DIRECT THE CDC TO PUT
EXPLICIT BAN ON THESE SPECIAL
ACCESS ON SPECIAL ACCESS ON
THEIR PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS AS
WELL AS IT BEING INCORPORATED
INTO THE PROVIDER AGREEMENT SO
IT WAS VERY SAD BUT NOT
TERRIBLY SURPRISING WHEN WE
WERE DOING THE LETTER WE WORK
CURIOUS, HOW COMMON WAS THE
STORY, HOW OFTEN IS IT
HAPPENING, THE VERY QUICK
SEARCH FOUND INCIDENTS VERY
SIMILAR INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED
IN WASHINGTON STATE AND NEW
JERSEY AND OTHER STATES AROUND
THE COUNTRY, WE WILL PUT THIS
LETTER OUT ON FRIDAY AND
HOPEFULLY I WOULD EXPECT A LOT
OF SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE
WASHINGTON DELEGATION AS WELL
AS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AROUND
REALLY MAKING IT CLEAR THESE
TYPES OF PRACTICES ARE SIMPLY
NOT ACCEPTABLE THEY ABSOLUTELY
INTERFERE WITH THE ALREADY POOR
RESULTS WE ARE ACHIEVING IN
TERMS OF EQUITY AND VACCINE
DISTRIBUTION.
AND REALLY MAKING IT CLEAR THAT
HHS AND CDC NEED TO PROVIDE MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS FOR
HOW THEY ARE MONITORING AND
TRACKING THESE KINDS OF
DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS AND
WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO ENSURE
THESE INCIDENTS DON'T HAPPEN
AGAIN.
AND WHAT WILL THEY DO ALSO TO
REMEDIATE WHAT HAPPENED SO WE
CAN'T JUST SAY FIND IT HAPPEN,
NO.
WE ALSO NEED MORE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT.
IN TERMS OF THINKING THROUGH
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, AS A
WHOLE, AS SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE
ALREADY COMMENTED, IT IS A
COMPLICATED TOPIC THAT REQUIRES
THE COLLABORATION AND
INTENTIONALITY ACROSS THE
ENTIRE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM,
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.
AS WE KNOW IN THE U.S., OUR
HEALTH SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLY
FRAGMENTED.
IT IS INCREDIBLY DISJOINTED IN
TERMS OF BOTH FINANCING AND
DELIVERY, IN TERMS OF
ADMINISTRATION.
FOR OUR OFFICE, WE ARE THINKING
A LOT, IF YOU TRY TO BUILD OUT
PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE LET
ALONE VACCINE SYSTEM IN
CONJUNCTION OR PARALLEL TO A
SYSTEM ALREADY SO FRAGMENTED AND
INEQUITABLE, CAN YOU REALLY
EXPECT A VACCINE DELIVERY
ITSELF WILL BE EQUITABLE? I'M
SURE AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE
CONGRESSWOMAN LEADS MEDICARE
FOR ALL EFFORTS IN THE HOUSE.
TO BE VERY CLEAR, NO ONE IN OUR
OFFICE OR ANYONE THINKS
MEDICARE FOR ALL WOULD HAVE
SOLVED ALL OF THE ISSUES IN
TERMS OF INEQUITY WE HAVE SEEN
BOTH IN TERMS OF COVID TESTING
AND TREATMENT,
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.
WE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE IT IS A
FOUNDATIONAL ASPECT AND HUGE
CONTRIBUTOR AS TO ALSO WHY WE
SEE THIS HUGE EQUITY ARISE.
JUST THINKING THROUGH, IN THE
PAST WE HAVE SEEN FOR EXAMPLE,
THE FLU VACCINE, IF YOU HAVE AN
INSURED POPULATION, YOU WILL
HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEOPLE
IN 2018, 40 % OF VACCINE
PEOPLE, I'M SORRY, 40 % OF
INSURED PEOPLE GOT THE FLU
VACCINE WHILE ONLY 16 % OF
UNINSURED ADULTS DEAD.
THOSE INEQUITIES EXISTED
PREVIOUSLY AND NOW WHAT WE SEE
WITH COVID IS SO MUCH HIGHER.
WHERE 12 % OF THE POPULATION IS
BLACK AND 18.5 ART LATINX YET
ONLY 5.4 % OF VACCINES HAVE
GONE TO BLACK INDIVIDUALS AND
11.5 % TO LATINX INDIVIDUALS.
EVEN THOUGH THESE DEMOGRAPHICS
ARE GETTING HIT ESPECIALLY HARD
THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.
AS WE KNOW THEM A UNINSURED
ADULTS HAVE A GREATER EXPOSURE
TO COVID-19 THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE
INSURED BECAUSE THEY TEND TO
WORK AT JOBS THAT HAVE GREATER
EXPOSURE, THEY ARE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS.
WE HAVE REALLY BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THIS FROM A COVERAGE
STANDPOINT BECAUSE SADLY, WHAT
WE REALIZED WAS OF COURSE THE
U.S. DOES NOT HAVE A NATIONAL
PROGRAM TO COVER VACCINATION
COSTS FOR UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS.
I WENT TO MAKE IT REALLY CLEAR
I'M ONLY TALKING FROM A
COVERAGE PERSPECTIVE, SO MANY
OTHER ASPECTS THAT IMPACT
SOMEONE'S ABILITY AND PEOPLE I
TALKED ABOUT THIS WHETHER IT IS
COMMUNITY MISTRUST,
COMMUNICATIONS, GEOGRAPHIC, ETC.
FROM THE COVERAGE AND FINANCING
PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S REALLY THE
ONLY SAFETY NET THAT UNINSURED
POPULATION HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT
IS FEDERALLY FUNDED IS THROUGH
THE PROVIDER RELIEF FUND.
THIS IS SOMETHING FUNDED
THROUGHOUT THE C.A.R.E.S.
ACT AND BASICALLY PROVIDERS ARE
ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR
PROVIDING COVID RELATED TESTING
OR TREATMENT AND VACCINATION
THROUGH THIS REALLY FUN.
IT HAD 175 BILLION LAST SPRING,
AS OF NOVEMBER 2020, AND ONLY
HAVE 30 BILLION REMAINING.
THIS IS TO COVER THE WHOLE
SPECTRUM OF SERVICES, THIS IS
TESTING, TREATMENT, AND
VACCINATION, VERY LITTLE GOING
TO REIMBURSING PROVIDERS TO
VACCINATE.
I WILL ALSO NOTE, BECAUSE THIS
IS THE ONLY PROGRAM THAT
REIMBURSES DOCTORS, IN ORDER TO
INCENTIVIZE DOCTORS TO TAKE ON
PATIENTS NOT INSURED, THEY ARE
ALLOWED TO CHARGE A SMALL
ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.
YOU KNOW, STUDY AFTER STUDY
WILL TELL YOU, EVEN IF THE FEE
IS SMALL, THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY
REDUCE UPTAKE OF THE VACCINE
AMONGST POPULATIONS ALREADY
MORE EXPOSED TO INFECTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF PROVIDERS'
ONLY INCENTIVE TO PROVIDE
VACCINE TO THE UNINSURED
POPULATION IS THROUGH THIS VERY
LIMITED PROGRAM THAT REIMBURSES
THEM, I MEAN, RIGHT THERE, IT IS
A HUGE INEQUITY ISSUE IN TERMS
OF COVERAGE.
WE ARE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN,
YOU GUYS MAY KNOW RIGHT NOW
WITH THE HOUSE PUSHING THROUGH
THE COVID-19 PACKAGE, VERY
CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH WHAT
PRESIDENT BIDEN PUT UP FOR HIS
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, $1.9
TRILLION PACKAGE.
THERE IS SOME EXPANSION OF
COVERAGE FOR THE UNINSURED, WE
THE THRESHOLD FOR STIMULUS
CHECKS BUT ALL THIS TO SAY IS
WE ARE FAR FROM WHAT IS NEEDED
AND I THINK WHAT WE HOPE IS IF
WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT EQUITY IN CONGRESS, DO WE
MEAN IT, ARE WE GOING TO UPHOLD
THE PRINCIPLES THE WAY WE
APPROACH FINANCING AND
DISTRIBUTION OR CONTINUE WITH
MANDATE SOLUTIONS AND FILLING
IN THE GAPS WHERE WE CAN AND
LEAVING THE MOST MARGINALIZED,
YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WITH NOT A
LOT OF HELP.
THE CONGRESSWOMAN, I HOPE YOU
ALL KNOW IS VERY ACTIVE AND
STRONG CHAMPION RIGHT NOW ON
ALL OF THESE ISSUES AND
FIGHTING AS MUCH AS SHE CAN TO
ENSURE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE
BEING ADDRESSED.
I THINK THAT IS MOSTLY WHAT I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
I ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON
WHAT DR. BEN DANIELSON SAID
ABOUT BEING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE,
AND JEFFREY ZION'S, THE
COORDINATOR FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN
IN TERMS OF THE COVID RESPONSE,
MAKE THIS CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHO
WILL LISTEN, ANY VACCINE PLAN
NEEDS TO RISE TO THE OCCASION
FOR NOW, WE UNDERSTAND IT WILL
TAKE A LOT TO PROVIDE COVERAGE
FOR PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS
MINUTE SO THERE ARE GAPS WE
NEED TO FILL IN THIS MOMENT AND
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO TAKE BUT
THERE IS THIS DEEP RECKONING
AND IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN
THE CALL, DEEP RECKONING THAT
HAS TO HAPPEN WITH HEARTEDLY IN
THE.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, HOW DID
THIS GAP BECOME SO WIDE? AND
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?
THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, STEPHANIE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND
SHARING THAT PERSPECTIVE FROM
CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL'S
OFFICE.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THIS LETTER
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN
DO AS A COUNCIL TO BE
SUPPORTIVE HER EFFORTS IN THE
SEATTLE DELEGATION EFFORTS
AROUND THESE ISSUES, WE WOULD
CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO TALK TO
OUR OWN FEDERAL LOBBYISTS
AROUND MAKING SURE AS WE WEIGH
IN AS A CITY ON THESE ISSUES.
I CAN SEE COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA HAS A COMMENT OR
QUESTION.
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME OKAY,
THERE ARE SOME BACKGROUND NOISE.
IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE YOU,
THANK YOU.
EVERYTHING, PLEASE PASS ALONG
OUR APPRECIATION TO THE
CONGRESSWOMAN, HUGE CHAMPION
FOR EQUITY, ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE FOR ALL.
ONE THING WE HAVE HEARD ON THE
BUDGET SIDE OF THINGS IS MANY
CITIES ARE BEING POTENTIALLY
PENALIZED FOR SORT OF ACTING
EARLY AND ACTING WITH URGENCY
AND INTEGRITY WE NEEDED TO
RESPOND TO COVID.
NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THE
INTERPRETATION FROM SOME OF THE
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION
OFFICIALS IS THAT FEDERAL
DOLLARS, FEMA, C.A.R.E.S.
ACT DOLLARS, USING IT TOWARD
COVID RELIEF WE HAVE ALREADY
PAIRED FOR IN THE BUDGETS IT
WILL BE SEEN AS
SUPPLEMENTATION.
COULD NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO PUT A NOTE OUT THERE TO THE
DELEGATION I HAVE TALKED TO THE
OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL
RELATIONS.
ASK QUESTIONS OF THESE PARTNERS
, I KNOW MANY CITIES ARE IN THE
SAME POSITION, IT WOULD BE
IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US NOT TO
HAVE ACTED.
ANY SORT OF DIGGING YOU CAN
HELP WITH TO MAKE SURE ON THE
HEALTH-RELATED FRONT WHERE WE
STEPPED IN AND PROVIDED THIS
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, WE ARE NOT
PENALIZED OR DINGED AND NOW
ASKED TO USE OF FEDERAL DOLLARS
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT
ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND FOR
WHAT WE HAVE BUT WE WOULD LOVE
TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT,
ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE
INCREDIBLE WORK FIREFIGHTERS AND
PUBLIC HEALTH FOLKS HAVE DONE
IN PARTNERSHIP TO GET COVID
TESTING OUT THE DOOR AND SOME
OF OUR INITIAL VACCINATION
EFFORT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU.
ON THE BUDGET ROLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND TO QUICKLY COMMENT ON THAT,
THE CONGRESSWOMAN HAD A
ROUNDTABLE WITH THE SEVEN CITY
MAYORS IN HER DISTRICT AND I
THINK THEY TOUCHED ON THIS
ISSUE, EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE AND MEDIUM-
SIZED CITIES LEFT OUT AND NOT
CONSIDERED WHEN IT COMES TO
THESE CALCULATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ALREADY
IN TOUCH WITH OUR OUTREACH
COORDINATOR, SHE WILL TAKE
COMMENTS AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE
THIS CONVERSATION.
>> GREAT.
GOOD FLAG, COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA.
I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET
THAT ON THE TABLE.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR
STEPHANIE OTHERWISE WE WILL
MOVE OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH PARTNERS? IT LOOKS LIKE
WE ARE READY TO HEAR FROM OUR
FOLKS OVER AT DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH.
I WILL HAND IT OVER TO YOU, I
SAW PAJ COME OFF OF MUTE, I
THINK YOU WILL LEAD OFF FIRST,
I WILL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO WALK
US THROUGH.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
IT IS NICE TO SEE MANY OF YOU.
I THINK OUR PATHS HAVE CROSSED
IN THE PAST BEFORE AND I'M
GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THIS
CONVERSATION TODAY.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR
COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT I
PERSONALLY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THAT I RESPECT, ADMIRE AND
HAVE LEARNED A LOT FROM SO IT
IS REALLY NICE TO HAVE SUCH
STELLAR POWERFUL COMMUNITY
LEADERS REALLY TEACH US BEING
THE STATE AND COUNTY
GOVERNMENTS ON HOW TO ACTUALLY
LEAD WITH EQUITY INCENTIVE
PAYING LIP SERVICE TO IT.
I WANT TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT AND SECOND, KATIE HAD TO
GO TO ANOTHER MEETING, IT IS
JUST LAYER AND I TODAY.
WE WILL GO ON SLIDES OF
ALLOCATION AND PROCESS FOR
ALLOCATION AND I WILL QUICKLY
END WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO
EQUITY ENGAGEMENT AND WHAT WE
ARE ACTUALLY DOING, TALKING
ABOUT THE ACTION SIDE OF THE
HOUSE, NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE
ARE PREACHING.
>> GREAT, THANKS.
BLAIR.
THANK YOU.
I WILL QUICKLY ECHO PAJ SAYING
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL IN
THE CONVERSATION AND SO
IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM ALL
COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT WE HAVE BEEN
LEARNING FROM YOUR AND TRY TO
APPLY SOME OF YOUR BEST
ACTRESSES AS I HOPE YOU WILL
HEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ALL
ARE DOING.
YOU ASKED US TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF
ALLOCATION DISTRIBUTION AND
STRATEGY.
THAT IS WHAT I WILL TRY TO
TACKLE IN TWO SLIDES.
I DON'T KNOW WHO OWNS THE
SLIDE, NEXT SLIDE.
>> MY OFFICE IS RUNNING THE
SLIDE, IF YOU WANT HER TO
SWITCH, SAY NEXT SLIDE AND SHE
WILL PULL IT OFF FOR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OBVIOUSLY, EQUITY HAS BEEN
INFUSED THROUGHOUT MANY PARTS
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
COVID RESPONSE.
ALLOCATION DISTRIBUTION,
INFORMATION EDUCATION
COMMUNICATION AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BE I WILL FOCUS ON
ALLOCATION RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I'VE LISTED HERE ARE THE
FACTORS THAT WE USE FOR
ALLOCATION VACCINE.
IT IS TO HELP PROBLEM SOLVER
AROUND HOW TO GET PAST THIS
GNARLY PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.
WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO
ALLOCATE VACCINES, CONSIDER A
NUMBER OF FACTORS.
WHAT IS ALSO NOT ON THE LIST
WHICH IS PART OF COMPLICATIONS
WITH LOCAL HEALTH DISTRIBUTIONS
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY ARE
SAYING ON THE GROUND AND WHAT
THEY SAY OR THEIR PRIORITIES
BASED ON COMPLICATIONS WITH
THEIR OWN COMMUNITY PRIORITY
EFFORTS ETC.
IN ADDITION, WE THINK ABOUT
THESE OTHER FACTORS IN TERMS OF
POPULATION AND ALLOCATING BASED
ON POPULATIONS. WE ALSO TAKE IN
CONSIDERATION EQUITY.
WE LOOK AT SOCIAL VULNERABILITY
IMPACTS, SOCIOECONOMIC, ACCESS
ISSUES AND APPLY THOSE WHEN IT
COMES TO ALLOCATING TO THE
COUNTY AS WELL AS PROVIDERS
THEMSELVES TO WHERE THEY ARE
LOCATED.
THEN WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS, THINK
ABOUT THE BEST MODALITIES OF
PANELS IN ORDER TO REACH
POPULATIONS.
A LOT OF FOLKS HOMEBOUND
INDIVIDUALS.
THINK ABOUT HOW TO ALLOCATE
VACCINES TO OUTREACH TO
INDIVIDUALS.
WE HEARD MATIAS TALK ABOUT POP-
UP SITES, OTHER STRATEGIES
NECESSARY DEPENDING [ INAUDIBLE
] AND MODERNA AND PFIZER, TWO
DIFFERENT VACCINES.
DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS TO PLAN
IT.
AND WE TRY TO MINIMIZE FOR
PROVIDERS, DIFFICULT IF YOU
CONSTANTLY GET TWO DIFFERENT
VACCINES.
AND THINK ABOUT, YOU HEARD FROM
A GROUP WHICH IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE WHO ASK FOR WHAT THEY
NEED AND GET VACCINES AND
WITHIN THE WEEK AND WE ARE
LOOKING FOR THE PROVIDER TO ACT
CONSISTENTLY AND WE THINK ABOUT
SECOND ONE AUTOMATICALLY SENT
DEPENDING ON THE BRAND FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SOMETIMES INDIVIDUALS ARE
SEEKING IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND
THAT IS THE INVENTORY
REQUIREMENT FOR PROVIDERS
REQUIRING US TO ACTUALLY
OPERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON-
THE-FLY OF TRYING TO ALLOCATE
OUR SECOND DOSES.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WE WOULD
LOVE TO CONSIDER BUT REALLY NOT
PERTINENT AT THIS POINT IN
TERMS OF ONLY ALLOCATING THOSE
REPORTING, WE ARE AFRAID WE
ACTUALLY LOSE SOME VERY VALUABLE
COMMUNITY-BASED PLAYERS.
WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE
THAT FUNCTIONALITY.
I WILL LEAVE IT THERE.
G CHALLENGES, YOU ALL HEARD THE
KEY ONE WHICH IS AROUND
SCARCITY OF VACCINE. WE WENT
FROM 600 PROVIDERS REQUESTED
ABOUT 350,000 FIRST DOSES.
WE ONLY GOT FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT 107,001ST DOSES.
WE COULD ONLY TRY TO FILL A
THIRD OF THOSE REQUESTS.
THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A
PROVIDER WHO COULD DO MORE IF
THEY HAD MORE VACCINE AND WE
SADLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH.
THE OTHER CHALLENGE WHICH IS
NOT ALL VACCINE.
PFIZER COMES IN ORDERS 975
DOSES PER ORDER, COMES IN 100.
PFIZER REQUIRED THIS COLD
REQUIREMENT. THE SITES THAT
HAVE ADEQUATE CAPACITY TO
MANAGE THOSE COLD REQUIREMENTS
AND GET THOSE VOLUMES IN TIME.
IF WE HAD MORE PROVIDERS ABLE
TO FURTHER MANAGE, I THINK IT
IS SOMETHING CREATING A PROBLEM
AND WHY YOU SEE SOMETIMES THEY
ARE ABLE TO SEND THINGS TO
OTHER PLAYERS, PEOPLE ARE
MANAGING INVENTORIES THOSE TWO
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS IN DIFFERENT
WAYS ACQUIRING AND REQUIRING US
TO GET CREATIVE.
THE OTHER IS INFORMATION.
SENT BY ABIGAIL AND OTHERS, WE
DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION,
WE WOULD LOVE IN TERMS OF
TRANSFERS, ADMINISTRATION, AS
WELL AS INVENTORY, WE DON'T
HAVE ALL THE PROVIDERS AND BE
ABLE TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY AS WE
WOULD LIKE.
STRATEGIES WE ARE PURSUING, WE
ARE REALLY LOOKING AT WHERE
SOME OF THOSE HIGH SOCIAL
VULNERABILITY AREAS WE MAY NOT
HAVE AS MANY PROVIDERS AS WE
WOULD LIKE AND BEING MORE
PROACTIVE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE
GETTING THEM ENROLLED SO WE
HAVE THEM READY TO GO AND HAVE
MORE VACCINE.
IN ADDITION WE ARE PRIORITIZING
SUPPORTING USE OF PROVIDERS
REACHING OUT TO HIGH VULNERABLE
GROUPS IN TERMS OF INFORMATION
AND SUPPORT SO THAT THEY CAN BE
PROVIDING US THE NECESSARY
INFORMATION AND PERHAPS USING A
PLATFORM WHICH MAKES IT EASIER
THOSE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.
NEXT SLIDE.
THE SLIDE IS TO INTRODUCE YOU
TO THE IDEA WEIRD MOMENTS OF
TIME WITH THE COVID RESPONSE.
EACH IS A DIFFERENT GROUP WITH
THE NEW STRATEGY WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE
FUTURE.
LIVING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW
NEITHER ONE.
WE WERE IN PHASE 18,
DISTRIBUTION THE DIFFERENT.
WE ALLOCATED DIFFERENT
PROVIDERS AND PARTNERS.
WE HAVE A PARTNER, THIS IS TO
CONTINUE EACH ONE OF THE
PHASES.
I THINK TRYING TO LIFT IMPACT
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE
TRYING TO DO IS TO THINK ABOUT
THE NEXT TIER OF AD WORKERS,
GROCERY, CHILD CARE WORKERS,
WHAT ARE THE BEST STRATEGIES TO
REACH THEM AND HOW DO WE LOOK
AHEAD AND ENGAGE PARTNERS
DESIGNING DISTRIBUTION
STRATEGIES AND OUTREACH ON SITE,
GETTING VOUCHERS TO HEALTHCARE
WORKERS TO THEN HAVE A PRE-
BOOKED APPOINTMENT IN CERTAIN
PLACES, HOW DO WE THINK
CREATIVELY ABOUT THE NEW
STRATEGIES TO MAKE SURE
INDIVIDUALS GET ACCESS TO THOSE
INDIVIDUAL SITES BECAUSE I THINK
, AS EVERYBODY HAS MENTIONED,
NOT JUST THE SUPPLY BUT HOW TO
DESIGN THE PROGRAM AND THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAY TO INTENTIONALLY
ENABLE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY.
OVER TO YOU, PAJ.
>> THANK YOU, BLAIR.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I WANTED TO END OUR
CONVERSATION FROM THE STATE
PERSPECTIVE AROUND SOME EQUITY
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED IN THIS LIST
CONTINUES TO GROW.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO
NEW STRATEGIES WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED VERY RECENTLY AS WE
DIVE DEEPER INTO THE WORK
SPECIFICALLY AROUND OUR
ALLOCATION AND HOW WE INTEGRATE
PRO EQUITY APPROACH AND THE
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
I HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND I THINK
WE ARE MOVING INTO THIS PHASE
WHERE WE WANT MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS AROUND RACE
ETHNICITY DATA REPORTING,
LOOKING AT LANGUAGE ACCESS
SERVICES AND ADA ACCESSIBILITY
INJURY RESERVE APPOINTMENTS
THAT CAN BE FILLED DIRECTLY BY
COMMITTEE PARTNERS AND/OR BIKE
COVID-19 HOTLINE WHICH HAS
LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION
SERVICES AVAILABLE, PARTNERING
WITH TRUSTED COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS AND
INTENTIONALLY CULTURE
RESPONSIVE OUTREACH TO
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES AND ALSO HIGH
SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AREAS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE WE
KNOW PEOPLE ARE FACING LANGUAGE
TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS TO GETTING
ONLINE APPOINTMENTS.
WITH THE MASS VACCINATION SITES
ONLINE, TRY TO RESERVE
APARTMENTS FOR PHONE-BASED
SCHEDULING.
CLARKE COUNTY, 20 % OF ALL
APPOINTMENTS OUR PHONE BASE.
SIMILARLY, WE WANT TO SEE HOW
TO PRIORITIZE ALLOCATION TO
PROVIDERS WHO EFFECTIVELY SERVE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMITTEES AND MANY PROVIDERS
ON THE CALL TODAY.
AND APPLY THE COVID-19 SOCIAL
VULNERABILITY INDEXING TOOL TO
ALIGN COVERAGE WITH AREAS AND
IDENTIFY PROVIDERS IN HIGH
AREAS WITH SUPPORT AND
SUSTAINED ALLOCATION.
I THINK IT IS ENCOURAGING TO
HEAR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
IS GOING TO ALLOCATE 1 MILLION
DOSES TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS OR FQHC'S ACROSS THE
NATION, I HOPE THAT A SUSTAINED
EFFORT AS WELL, IT CAN BE DONE
ONCE IT A MOMENT SORT OF
APPROACH.
PRIORITIES ARE STRATEGIES
LISTED ON THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF
YOU.
THE TWO I SHARED OUR NEWER
STRATEGIES, THE FIRST ONE
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES TO INFORM
VACCINE PRIORITY AND PLANING.
WE LED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS IN OCTOBER TO SOLICIT
OVER 18,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
THAT HELPED PHASES 1A AND 1B.
THEY STRONGLY SHARED THE NATURE
PRIORITIZE YOUNG ADULTS AND
ELDERS THAT CARED FOR THEM AT
HOME.
THIS FEEDBACK IMPROVED
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INVESTING IN
TRUSTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND
TRUSTED LEADERS LIKE JIJI,
PRIOR CONTRACTOR OF OURS, WE
WANT TO CONTRACT AND
SUBCONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH
COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY LED
ORGANIZATIONS.
WANT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY LED
COVID-19 OUTREACH INCLUDING VIA
TRUST IN COMMUNITY LEADERS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW THE
BLACK LIVES IN SPOKANE
ORGANIZING RADIO SHOW TO
DISCUSS VACCINE HESITANCY WITH
THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
MANY OF MY TEAM MEMBERS FROM
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMITTEE
WILL JOIN THE CONVERSATIONS TO
HELP DISPEL SOME OF THE MYTHS
AND WITH COMMUNITY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
THESE ARE SMALLER EXAMPLES BUT
NONETHELESS THIS IS WHAT NEEDS
TO HAPPEN AT EVERY COMMUNITY
ND WE DO THIS IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH OUR LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENT AND OTHER COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL
OF OUR COMMUNITIES, MEDICATION
EFFORTS ARE LINGUISTICALLY
APPROPRIATE AND ACCESSIBLE.
WITH MULTILINGUAL CAMPAIGNS,
EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, AND
OUTREACH IN 36 LANGUAGES.
I THINK TRANG MENTIONED
EARLIER, WE BUILT THE SYSTEM
WITH THE PLANE AND FLYING IT,
THE SYSTEM WAS NOT READY FOR
THE PANDEMIC DUE TO INHERENT
INEQUITIES AND RACISM BUILT
INTO GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURES.
WE HAD TO CREATE LANGUAGE
ACCESS PLAN FOR COVID-19 TO
MAKE SURE VITAL INFORMATION WAS
BEING TRANSLATED IN THE TOP
LANGUAGES THAT COMMUNITY REALLY
NEEDS.
WE NEED TO LEVERAGE SOCIAL
MEDIA AND INFLUENCES,
ESPECIALLY CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE INFLUENCES THROUGH
TRUSTED COMMUNITY AND WOULD
JUST AND DO AN AUDIENCE
CAMPAIGN TESTING THROUGH
AUDIENCE OF, WE HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT AND CONTINUE TO DO IT
MORE.
I AGREE WITH ABIGAIL AND
OTHERS, WE NEED TO STRIKE THE
PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
ABILITY FOR THE PANDEMIC AND
BEYOND.
WE NEED COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND
ACCESS.
MY TEAM WORKING TO DEVELOP
SPECIFIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PLANS FOR 10 PRIORITY
COMMUNITIES.
NO SURPRISE TO YOU ON THE FORUM
TODAY, BLACK AND AFRICAN-
AMERICAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
LATINX, NATIVE AND HAWAIIAN AND
ALASKAN.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS OR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES AND THESE ARE
SPECIFIC PLANS WE WANT TO
CONNECT WITH PARTNERS ON SO WE
CAN GET REAL-TIME FEEDBACK ON
HOW APPROPRIATE THE PLANS WILL
BE AND HOW TO RESOURCE
COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS
IMPLEMENTING A LOT OF WORK
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE WORK IS
HAPPENING AT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD,
THAT LOCALITY LEVEL AT THAT
COMMUNITY LEVEL.
WE ARE ALSO ORGANIZING MEETINGS
WITH LOCAL HEALTH PARTNERS TO
DISCUSS THE STRATEGIES, ENGAGE
LATINX COMMUNITY AND FARMWORKER
COMMUNITY, KNOWING WHAT WE
LEARNED FROM TESTING STRATEGY.
ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND EASTERN
WASHINGTON AND WORKING WITH
ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE
FARMERS DIRECTLY.
THE OHER THING I WANT TO
QUICKLY MENTION HIS FOSTERING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COLLABORATION.
WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE COVID-
19 LAUNCH COLLABORATIVE, IT HAS
COMMITTEE VOICE.
DR. BEN DANIELSON AS PART OF
THAT COLLABORATIVE, HE IS
PLUGGED INTO MANY OTHER FORUMS
AND COMMITTEE THE GOVERNMENT
SET UP.
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE
LEADERS LIKE DR. BEN AND OTHERS
THAT JOINED THE COLLABORATIVE
AND GIVE VOICE TO A LOT OF
CONCERNS THAT OFTEN LEADERS IN
DECISION-MAKING AND SPACES
DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO LISTEN
TO.
20 % OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERS
ARE BIPOC AND 30 % ARE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES OR
UNIONS THAT SERVE
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES.
FINALLY, WE WANT TO SUPPORT
TRAUMA APPROACH TO VACCINE
POSITIONS FOR OTHER REASONS
JIJI AND MANY OTHERS MENTIONED
INCLUDING ABIGAIL AND ESTHER.
WE KNOW THAT HISTORIAL LEGACY
OF DISTRESSED AND INTENTIONAL
AND VIOLENT HARM ON COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR HAS CREATED A LEVEL OF
DISTRUST WE SEE AND CREATING
THAT BIPOC PARADOX WHERE WE
NEED THE MOST DISENFRANCHISED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS VACCINATED
BUT ALSO COMPLETELY
UNDERSTANDING THE RELUCTANCE HE
OR HESITANCY AROUND GETTING
VACCINATED.
AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BIPOC
COMMITTEE PARTNERS ASKED TO
PROVIDE TRAINING AND RESOURCES
TO SUPPORT VACCINE HESITANCY
CONVERSATIONS WITH HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED GROUPS AND HOW TO
USE COMMUNITY RESOURCES WE KNOW
ARE TRUSTED TO HELP US DO THAT.
I WILL PAUSE HERE, WE ARE WAY
OVER TIME, I WANTED TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A SLICE
OF WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON FROM
THE STATE PERSPECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU, PAJ AND BLAIR.
I APPRECIATE YOU HANGING IN.
I KNOW WE ARE RUNNING PRETTY
LATE TODAY, I APPRECIATE IT.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FOR PAJ OR BLAIR?
I'M LOOKING FOR HANDS.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY.
THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, I
THINK THERE IS FROM THE STATE
LEVEL, A SORT OF LEANING TOWARD
HOSPITALS AND PARTNERING WITH
HOSPITALS AS A POINT FOR
VACCINATION.
HOSPITALS IN A LOT OF WAYS ARE
SET UP A LITTLE BIT BETTER
BECAUSE I HAVE MORE RESOURCES,
ETC.
HOW IS THE STATE EVALUATING THAT
WITH THE REALITY MANY OF OUR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS ARE
THE ONES THAT ARE MOST TRUSTED
BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND ARE
THE TRUSTED MESSENGERS? HOW IS
THE STATE LOOKING TO OR IS THE
STATE LOOKING TO RECONCILE A
SORT OF PAIRING UP OF SKILL
SETS TO BE A BETTER DELIVERY
MODEL FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?
>> REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
BLAIR, YOU CAN CHIME IN AS
WELL, WE ARE SHIFTING
ALLOCATION RIGHT NOW PRETTY
CONSISTENTLY TOWARD MOVING AWAY
FROM LARGER HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS
EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE A
STRONG COMPONENT BUT INTO FAIRLY
QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.
I KNOW TERESITA AND I HAD MANY
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AND
OTHER HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERS AS
WELL.
THE OTHER THING I MIGHT NOT
HAVE BEEN CLEAR ON, INCLUDING
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTEGRATING
PRO EQUITY APPROACH AND A
VACCINE ALLOCATION AND
DISTRIBUTION, THAT INCLUDES
REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS LIKE HOSPITALS AND
PHARMACIES.
HAD WE MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALSO
COLLECTING INFORMATION WE NEED
SO THAT IF WE SEE THERE IS LACK
OF COMPLIANCE OR HEALTHCARE
SYSTEMS THAT ACTUALLY ADOPT THE
PRO EQUITY APPROACHES MIGHT
RECEIVE PREFERENCE FOR
SUSTAINED VACCINE ALLOCATION.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF
CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING
INTERNALLY ANTI-DO WE MAKE SURE
THE OBSERVER POINTS TO BE FILLED
BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS? THAT IS
THE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WE'RE
HAVING INTERNALLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY
OF OUR CH A C PARTNERS
INCLUDING TERESITA , ALWAYS
WILLING TO LISTEN TO MORE IDEAS
THAT WOULD MAKE MOST SENSE TO
SUPPORT THEM.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT., I THINK
SOME OF THE SYSTEMS, IF YOU
COULD GO BACK A COUPLE SLIDES,
MAYBE ONE SLIDE.
SOME OF THE ISSUES FLAGGED
AROUND WE HEARD COMMUNITY
VOICES TALKING ABOUT RACE
ETHNICITY IS NOT BEING
CAPTURED, IF IT IS IT IS
SPORADIC.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THE
STATE CAN'T JUST REQUIRE THIS,
THE SYSTEMS ARE RUN BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IT SEEMS
TO ME SOME OF THE ISSUES BEING
FLAGGED ARE ISSUES FLIPPING THE
SWITCH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
HELP US UNDERSTAND WHY THE
CHALLENGES CONTINUE TO BE
CHALLENGES AND WHY WE CAN'T AND
WHY IT HAS NOT YET BEEN REQUIRED
TO CONSISTENTLY AND SYSTEMICALLY
COLLECT RACE AND ETHNICITY DATA
SO WE HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF
HOW VACCINE ALLOCATION AND
DISTRIBUTION IS PLAYING OUT
THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.
>> I ASKED BECAUSE OF THE
FEDERAL NATIONAL SYSTEM PEOPLE
USE FOR IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES,
OT JUST COVID BUT OTHER
VACCINATION AS WELL.
THOSE CATEGORIES ARE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE STATE.
WHAT WE ARE FINDING IS THERE IS
ADDED COMPLEXITY FOR COVID
SPECIFICALLY.
A NUMBER OF PROVIDERS QUITE
HONESTLY ARE GETTING THAT
INFORMATION IN.
THE PROVIDERS ARE CALLING
GETTING IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY
ARE, INVENTORY AND OTHER
FACTORS.
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE STAFFING
CAPACITY -- [ INAUDIBLE ] GETS
PUT IN THE PLACES AND THAT
OFFSETS. HONESTLY IT IS HUMAN
FOR SOME OF THE ERROR AND
SUPPORTING SOME OF THE
PROVIDERS TO PUT IN
INFORMATION.
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT, THE
POINTS AROUND PUBLIC HEALTH
CAPACITY AND RESOURCING OF A
NUMBER OF THESE. WE HAVE SEEN
LAG OF NEW PARTNERS.
AFTER PUT INTO THE SYSTEM.
>>> I THINK WE HAVE JOAQUIN AND
CUC.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LET'S HEAR
FROM CUC AND WALKING.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE CAN SAY GOOD EVENING.
I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF,
MY CHILDREN ARE HOME FROM
SCHOOL AND I HAVE TO SHIFT TO
PARENTING.
THE PERSON YOU WANT TO HEAR
FROM IS JOAQUIN UY, WHO HAS
BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE
MAYORS OFFICE TEAM ON A DAILY
BASIS.
OUR OFFICE IS ALL IN.
I WOULD OFFER IT WAS VERY
IMPACTFUL TO HEAR FROM
COMMITTEE PANEL.
>>> THE CITY IS TRYING TO DO
WHAT IT CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
RARE FOR CITY ENTITIES TO BE
VACCINE PROVIDERS.
OBVIOUSLY, THE HOSPITALS, THE
CLINICS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS,
THEY WERE SOME OF THE FIRST
VACCINE PROVIDERS OUT THERE
BECAUSE OF STAFF AND TO THEY
CARE FOR IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
FOR US, WE GOT INTO IT FOUR
WEEKS AGO, WE BECAME A VACCINE
PROVIDER AND ONLY GETTING 1000
VACCINES PER WEEK AND EVEN THAT
IS NOT CERTAIN, SOMETIMES WE
ARE FINDING OUT THE LAST MINUTE
WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINES
, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
CLINICS WE COMMITTED OURSELVES
TO.OF IMMIGRATION
ARE PARTNERS LET U█S KNOW WHAT
WE ARE HEARING, OTHER ACCESS
ISSUES REGARDING ON MY FORMS OR
COLLATERAL FLYERS AND
INFORMATIONAL SHEETS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS THE
TAKE AWAY FROM THE GROUP IS THE
CITY OF SEATTLE IS EMBARKING ON
A PROCESS OF WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
SPECIFICALLY WHO HAVE ACCESS TO
ELIGIBLE OLDER RESIDENTS. FOLKS
WHO HAVE EMAIL LISTS, PHONE
NUMBERS, CELL PHONE NUMBERS FOR
TEXTING, FOLKS WHO ARE 50 YEARS
OF AGE OR OLDER WITH MULTI
GENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS WHICH
IS IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
HOUSEHOLD AND FOLKS WHO ARE 65
AND OVER.
THERE ARE A TON OF AMAZING
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
DOING THE WORK ACROSS THE CITY,
ONE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE IS
COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW I
THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK.
I SAW AN EMAIL FROM SOPHIA,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ECS, I
SAW THEY PARTNERED TO DO A
CLINIC MUCH EARLIER I BELIEVE
JANUARY.
I CALLED HER UP AND SAID HOW IS
THE CLINIC GOING, ANYTHING WE
NEED TO KNOW AND WE HAVE OVER
100 PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST.
ANYTHING THE CITY OF SEATTLE
CAN DO LUNCH ANOTHER POP UP
WITH US, THAT WOULD BE
WONDERFUL.
WE GOT HER CONNECTED TO THE
VACCINATION TEAM SINUS, SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, AND OUR OFFICE.
WE LAUNCHED A POP UP CLINIC
LAST FRIDAY AND OVER 200 EAST
AFRICAN REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT
RESIDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER
PHASE 1B WERE VACCINATED
THANKFULLY. SOMETHING WE PLAN
TO KEEP DOING AS WE MOVE
FORWARD WITH LIMITED VACCINE
SUPPLY.
COMPILING A LIST WHICH WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TYPE OF
WORK AND IN THE PROCESS EVERY
DAY, LONG HOURS AND BEING ON
THE PHONE CALLING FOLKS AND
FIGURING OUT WHEN IS THE BEST
TIME TO REVIEW, WORK WITH YOU,
WE HAVE CLINICS COMING UP. NEXT
SLIDE PLEASE.
WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL VACCINE
OUTREACH, THERE IS THE
DISTRIBUTION AND PARTNERING
WITH FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE
ACTUAL CLINICS TO GET THEM
VACCINATED BUT OF COURSE THERE
IS DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO
FOLKS WHO ARE EITHER VACCINE
HAS A TENT OR ONE THE VACCINE
JUST DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.
WE WILL BE MEETING REGULARLY
WITH REFUGEE COMMITTEE MEMBERS,
I THINK IT IS BIWEEKLY CHECK IN
, REMEMBER WHERE THE GAPS ARE
SO WE CAN COURSE CORRECT OR LET
THE PARTNER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
NO WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH CBO
STRATIFY PARTNERSHIPS.
ON FRIDAY AND THAT RESULTED IN
WITH 200 FOLKS VACCINATED AND
PARTNER WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
AND A TRAINING OPPORTUNITY WITH
PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY WHERE WE ARE HAVING FOLKS
TO BE A VACCINE AMBASSADOR AND
I WILL PUT THAT LINK INTO THE
CHAT, WE HAVE A FACEBOOK EVENT
PAGE THAT LEADS INTO MICROSOFT
FORUM WHERE PEOPLE CAN PUT IN
INFORMATION, SIT IN ON A
TRAINING SESSION AND ABLE TO
CONFIDENTLY TALK TO THEIR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE
FACTS OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE,
THE INGREDIENTS IN THE VACCINE,
HOW IT IS DISTRIBUTED, WHAT THE
EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION
MEANS, BEHIND THE MRNA VACCINE,
ALL THAT AND MORE.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
WE ARE ALSO STILL WORKING
CLOSELY, HUGE TEAM EFFORT, ONE
OF THE THINGS I THINK CAME OUT
OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS A
LOT OF SILOS THAT EXISTED IN
THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN VERY
MUCH DESTROYED, NO SILOS,
GRAINS EVERYWHERE, THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE LANGUAGE ACCESS INTEGRATED
IN THE FRONT AND AND NOT LATER
ON IN THE PROCESS TO COMMUNICATE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO
VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
JUST PUTTING INTO THE CHAT ALSO
THE LINK TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE
VACCINATION PAGE.
I THINK YOU CAN SEE AT THE TOP,
MULTIPLE PAGES YOU CAN CLICK TO
GET INFORMATION JUST RELEVANT
TO IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE
COMMUNITIES, WE HEARD LOUD AND
CLEAR FROM COMMITTEE PARTNERS,
THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLIC
CHARGE, IS THERE A COST, WILL
INFORMATION BE STORED AND GIVEN
TO IMMIGRANT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
? NO ON ALL COUNTS, IT IS
REALLY EASY FOR FOLKS TO GET A
VACCINE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE CITY OF
SEATTLE VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY
IS PRETTY OPEN, MAKE IT AS LOW
BARRIER AS POSSIBLE.
PEOPLE SHOW UP AND PRESENT IDS,
THAT IS IT. AND WE WANT TO PUT
IT ON THE CBO'S THAT HAVE
THOSE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS ON
THE GROUND FOLKS TO DO THAT WORK
TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE VACCINE
SITES FOR THE CLINIC THAT WANTS
TO DO THE WORK, A MATTER OF
GETTING THE VACCINE TO THEM AND
CREATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
SEATTLE FIRE AND COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
ANOTHER THINK WE AT THE OFFICE
OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE
AFFAIRS EXILE AT HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH MEDIA
ORGANIZATIONS.
COMMUNICATING WITH MEDIA
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUBLISH AND
BROADCAST IN LANGUAGES OTHER
THAN ENGLISH.
WE KNOW BASED ON ALL THE YEARS
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS,
VULNERABLE IMMIGRANTS AND
úREFUGEES DO NOT READ THE
SEATTLE TIMES OR SEATTLE
WEEKLY, THEY READ THE SEATTLE
CHINESE POST, PICKING UP A
PRINT COPY OF NORTHWEST
VIETNAMESE NEWS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE NEWS ABOUT
THE VACCINE IS IN, ACCURATE
NEWS ABOUT THE VACCINE ARE IN
THESE PUBLICATIONS ALL DAY
EVERY DAY, ALL WEEK EVERY WEEK.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS WE
FOUND OUT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF
SEATTLE WAS ORGANIZING A
VACCINE CLINIC, NOT OUR VACCINE
SUPPLY, I THINK IT WAS SWEDISH
AND THAT WAS AT HOLY FAMILY
CHURCH IN WHITE CENTER.
THEY DID NOT HAVE A
RELATIONSHIP, I'M HAPPY TO
CONNECT YOU WITH PABLO, HE IS
GREAT, AND HE COULD GET SHOTS
OF SOME OF THE PASTOR OF THE
CHURCH, GETTING UP PUBLIC SHOT
AND NOW THE VIDEO IS BROADCAST
ACROSS SEATTLE SHOWING THE HOLY
FATHER AND CATHOLICS AROUND THE
WORLD CAN GET THE VACCINE, NO
CONDITION, ETC.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IN
LANGUAGE NEWS AND INFORMATION
OF ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU
HAD TO SOME EXTENT, BUT VERY
MUCH IN ETHNIC MEDIA OUTLETS.
AND PUBLIC HEALTH SEATTLE KING
COUNTY, THEY HAVE TRANSIT
MATERIALS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS ON THE WEBSITE, WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS OUT
THERE AND THE ETHNIC MEDIA
PARTNERS KNOW WHERE TO GO WHEN
THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
VACCINE OR WANT TO POINT PEOPLE
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE ARE ALSO HELPING MAKE SURE
THE CITY CUSTOMER SERVICE
BUREAU WHICH HAS ACCESS TO
LANGUAGE, I THINK SOMEONE
MENTIONED BEFORE OVER THE PHONE
INTERPRETATION SERVICES, THEY
HAVE ACCESS THE SAME
INFORMATION WE DO, SOMETIMES
PEOPLE GET INTIMIDATED BY A
WEBSITE, I KNOW I DO.
THEY WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON
THE PHONE ABOUT IT IN LANGUAGE
EVEN WITH AN INTERPRETER. THE
OPERATORS ARE DOING AN AMAZING
JOB PATIENTLY EXPLAINING SOME
OF THE INFORMATION ON OUR PAGES
AND LETTING FOLKS KNOW WHERE
THEY CAN GET MORE INFORMATION.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THAT IS IT FOR ME.
I ALSO WANT TO PUT DOWN PUBLIC
HEALTH TRANSLATED INFORMATION.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN POSTING THAT
A LOT.
ALSO WANT TO MENTION WHERE
COLLABORATING, BUILDING THE
PLANE AS YOU FLY IT, THAT IS
FINE, WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY
DEVELOPING AND LAUNCHING
CITYWIDE VACCINATION PLAN AND
OUTREACH PLAN BECAUSE WE CANNOT
WASTE ANY TIME TO STOP.
WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING SO THAT
IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
DO WE GET IT RIGHT?
HECK NO.
THAT IS KIND OF OUR OFFICE.
IT IS LIKE WE ARE BIG FANS OF
HAMILTON, BIG FANS OF
IMMIGRANTS, WE GET THE JOB DONE,
BIG FANS OF WE ARE NEVER
SATISFIED.
WE ARE HARSH ON OURSELVES,
ALWAYS CAN DO BETTER, THIS IS
SOMETHING WE KNOW LIVES ON THE
LINE AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER
AND WILL DO BETTER.
WE WILL DO THAT WITH YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME
BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU, WALKING FOR THAT.
I'M SO HAPPY WE ENDED ON THIS
NOTE, I KNOW WE HEARD A LOT OF
HEAVINESS IN THE COMMUNITY
VOICES AND THAT IS NOT
MISPLACED HAVING US, A BIG
REASON HAVING THIS EXIST
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A REAL
STRUGGLE.
AS HE MENTIONED IN YOUR CLOSING
, ONE OF YOUR CLOSING LINES,
LIVES ARE LITERALLY ON THE LINE
AND MOSTLY BLACK BROWN REFUGEE
IMMIGRANT LIVES ON THE LINE, I
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK OIRA
HAS BEEN DOING AND LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE
EFFORTS OF OIRA AS WE
INTENTIONALLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY
DEVELOP AND LAUNCH A CITYWIDE
VACCINATION ENGAGEMENT AND CITY
OUTREACH PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL
OVER WHAT THE STATE DOES OR CAN
HE DOES, WE HAVE A LOT OF
CONTROL IN THE POWER TO
INFLUENCE WHAT WE DO IN THE
CITY TO REACH DEEPLY INTO OUR
OWN COMMUNITIES AND OWN
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION
INFRASTRUCTURE TO HAVE AN
EQUITABLE VACCINE OUTREACH
STRATEGY.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORT
IN THAT SPACE.
I CAN SEE COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAUSS HAS HIS HAND UP AND I
WANT TO INVITE OTHER COLLEAGUES
THAT MIGHT HAVE COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS TO DO THE SAME.
>> THANKS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
AND THANKS, JOAQUIN.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, YOUR
ENTHUSIASM IS RADIATING THROUGH
THE COMPUTER SO THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, WE ARE
LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, IT TAKES TEAM AND
I'M GLAD TO HAVE EXECUTIVE AND
COUNCIL SO DEDICATED TO ISSUES
OF EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, JOAQUIN.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION
AND OVERVIEW AND THE ONES YOU
HAVE SHARED WITH OUR TEAM.
I WONDER IN LIGHT OF THE
CONVERSATION WE HAD TODAY, IF
YOU HAD AN ENDLESS BUDGET AND
MAGIC WAND, ARE THERE 2 TO 3
THINGS YOU WOULD WANT TO LIST
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO
COULD HAVE THAT IN MIND AS WE
THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS TO
FOLLOW THROUGH NOT JUST
CREATING THE TABLE BUT RE-
SHIFTING OF POWER DYNAMICS AND
RESOURCES CALLED UPON US?
>> WITH THE BUDGET, I DON'T
KNOW IF IT IS POSSIBLE BUT IT
WOULD BE SO AMAZING IF WE COULD
DIRECTLY BUY VACCINES FROM
COMPANIES SO WE COULD GET A
SUPPLY INDEPENDENT OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THE SUPPLY REALLY IS
DICTATING SO MUCH FOR THE
ISSUES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
INFINITE SUPPLY OF VACCINE
WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
I WOULD ALSO LOVE FOR THE TO BE
A CORE, SOME KIND OF RESIDENT
STAKEHOLDER CORE OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE TRAINED TO COMMUNICATE
ABOUT THE VACCINE AND BE ABLE
TO COUNTER SOME OF THE
MISINFORMATION OUT THERE AND TO
REALLY GO TO COMMUNITIES AND IF
THEY ARE COMFORTABLE
DOORKNOCKING AND TALKING TO
FOLKS OR WANT TO DO ZOOM CALLS
OR TEXT MESSAGE OR CALL PEOPLE,
IT REALLY IS ONE OF THOSE
PERSON-TO-PERSON THINGS.
COVID-19 HAS SO DAMAGED OUR
ABILITY TO BE FACE-TO-FACE AND
COMMUNICATE ONE-ON-ONE TO
PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT I'M
HEARING, WHY I TOOK THE
VACCINE, WHY I BELIEVE IN IT,
WHY YOU SHOULD DO IT.
IT REALLY IMPAIRED OUR ABILITY
TO SPREAD INFORMATION OUT
THERE.
WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM
OUR IMMIGRANT REFUGEE PARTNERS,
IT IS PEOPLE.
PEOPLE WHETHER THEY ARE FAITH
LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE
AUNT THAT IS THE GOSSIP THAT
EVERYONE KNOWS AND FEARS, THOSE
ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY
THE ONES WHO ARE OUT THERE
DOING AMAZING WORK.
IF WE CAN ORGANIZE THEM TO DO
THAT MORE OR TO RESOURCE THEM,
THAT WOULD BE SO GREAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I COME FROM
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AKRON, IF
THERE'S ANYTHING I'M AN
ADVOCATE FOR MORE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS BEING IN CITY
GOVERNMENT ENTITIES LIKE THIS
AND INFORMING POLICY WITH WHAT
WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT IF WE
CAN'T DO THAT, WE SHOULD BE
FUNDING THEM TO DO THE WORK
BECAUSE IT IS COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING THAT WILL ENSURE
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST
VULNERABLE ARE VACCINATED.
LISTEN TO ELDERS, LISTEN TO
SOMEONE THEY KNOW OR TRUST.
AND WE CAN PUT AS MANY PRESS
RELEASE STORIES OUT THERE INTO
THE NEWSPAPERS, THAT IS A
BASELINE BUT IT REALLY DOES
COME DOWN TO THAT PERSON-TO-
PERSON CONTACT.
THERE ARE WAYS TO DO IT, THE
OUTSIDE, DOUBLE MASK, AND BE
SOCIALLY DISTANT.
THOSE TRUSTED MESSENGERS, THEY
WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY ARE
FUNDED AND THEY ARE OUT THERE
COMMUNITIES, AMAZING GRASSROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE
501(C)(3) DOING THE WORK.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
GET THEM FUNDED TO DO THAT WORK
WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH
THE WHOLE NONPROFIT SYSTEM,
THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
AND JUST MORE MONEY TO
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGNIZATIONS
THAT ARE DOING IT, THAT WE
HEARD FROM EARLIER AND WHO MAY
NOT BE HERE AND WHO ARE
ACTUALLY, TRUE CONFESSION,
THERE IS ACTUAL EQUITY IN
EDUCATION GATHERING HAPPENING
ABOUT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
AND I'M TRYING TO LISTEN
BECAUSE I WAS INVITED TO APPEAR
ON THAT, I'M TRYING TO DO MY
THING AND HEAR WHAT IS GOING
ON, A LOT OF THE SAME ISSUES
ARE COMING UP.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS SEPARATE
ZOOM SCREEN OF FACES THERE,
THESE ARE ALL AMAZING FOLKS WHO
SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE FUNDED TO
DO THE WORK AND FIGURE OUT ON
THEIR OWN BASED ON THE
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR
COMMUNITIES THEY FOCUS ON WHAT
THEY SHOULD BE DOING FOR
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION.
IT IS INSPIRING TO SEE SOME
FOLKS DOING THE WORK BECAUSE
THE MESSAGING FOR CHINESE ELDERS
AND CID WILL BE VERY DIFFERENT
FROM THE MESSAGING FOR RECENT
ARRIVALS FROM MAINLAND CHINA.
WE HAVE TO REALLY SPECIFY THE
MESSAGE AND HOW WE ARE
MESSAGING TO EACH LOCAL HYPER
SEGMENTED COMMUNITY AND THAT IS
WHAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW HOW
TO DO.
MORE FUNDING FOR THAT.
>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA AND
THANKS FOR THAT ANSWER,
JOAQUIN.
I DO SORT OF WONDER IF THERE'S
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK
AT MODELS LIKE PARENT-CHILD
HOME PROGRAM, PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM BUT REALLY CENTERS ON
TRUSTED MESSENGERS WITH
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE
INFORMATION IS AND BRINGS THAT
INFORMATION TO PEOPLE AS
OPPOSED TO REQUIRING PEOPLE TO
GO THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY OF A
SYSTEM TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW
TO ACCESS SOMETHING AS SIMPLE
AS A VACCINE IS SOMETHING I
THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A SERIOUS
LOOK AT.
I'M NOT SAYING THE EXACT MODEL
WOULD BE PERFECT BUT I WONDER
IF IT CAN SERVE AS INSPIRATION
AS WE DEVELOP AND LAUNCH THIS
VACCINATION STRATEGY, IF THOSE
TWO MODELS MIGHT SERVE AS
INSPIRATION FOR A MODEL THAT
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN THIS
CASE.
I AM HEARING AND DID HEAR A LOT
ON THE COMMUNITY PANEL ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT NAVIGATORS ARE TO
THIS SYSTEM.
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, GOES BEYOND
LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ACCESS
BUT SORT OF WHERE DO I EVEN
START?
I LIKE TO JOKE I SPEAK ENGLISH,
I SPEAK SPANISH AND I ALSO
SPEAK LAWYER AND I'M STILL
HAVING A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT
HOW TO GET MY OWN MOTHER AND MY
MOTHER-IN-LAW BOTH IN PHASE CO-
INTO SORT OF THE SYSTEM TO GET
VACCINATED. I THINK THAT
CONNECTIVITY FROM THE COMMUNITY
NETWORK PERSPECTIVE IS SO
IMPORTANT AND WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INTENTIONALLY
BUILD THAT CAPACITY OF THOSE
NETWORKS THROUGH SOME EMERGENCY
FUNDING AND THROUGH SOME
CREATIVE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
OKAY, COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE
SEND JOAQUIN INTO ANOTHER ZOOM
ROOM TO WOW THAT AUDIENCE?
OKAY, COLLEAGUES.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL
HANGING IN WITH ME, THIS WAS A
REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
I HOPE YOU ALL LEARNED AS MUCH
AS I DID AND THIS IS THE START
OF THIS CONVERSATION, NOT THE
END.
AS A REMINDER, JEFF SIMMS DID
CIRCULATE A DRAFT VERSION OF
THE RESOLUTION FOR CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION NEXT TUESDAY.
THAT HAS BEEN IN PART INFORMED
ALREADY BY SOME OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNCIL
OFFICES, IT REALLY IS IN DRAFT
FORM.
I REALLY WANT TO INVITE ALL OF
YOU TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
MY OFFICE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH
THE COMMUNITY PANELISTS WHO
WERE HERE TO ENGAGE THEM ON THE
CONTENT OF THE RESOLUTION TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE APPROPRIATELY
REFLECTING NOT JUST EQUITY
VALUES AND GOALS OF THE CITY
BUT REALLY CONNECTING THAT WITH
ACTION ITEMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
MECHANISMS AS WE CONTINUE TO
MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THEN, LASTLY, I WANT TO
THANK -- FOR MY OFFICE, INVITE
THE PANELISTS TO INVITE THEM
AND ORGANIZE THEM, BOTH ON THE
GOVERNMENT PANEL AND COMMITTEE
PANEL.
I WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL THE
WORK SHE DID TO MAKE SURE WE
HAD AS MANY PERSPECTIVES AND
VOICES REPRESENTED ON THOSE
PANELS AS POSSIBLE HUGE THANKS.
ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES?
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THAT IS THE LAST ITEM, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
WE WILL SEE YOU SOON.