In an effort to get Dallas adults vaccinated, the city has partnered with the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Texas to bring vaccinations to residents in their homes starting Tuesday, April 13.
The service is reserved for those who lack mobility and/or transportation to reach vaccination sites and those who are currently part of the Meals on Wheels Program, run by VNA of Texas.
"I am excited for what this new partnership will mean for Dallas," said Eric Johnson, Dallas Mayor and City of Dallas emergency management director. "For our vulnerable homebound residents, this effort can finally bring an end to the fear of the last year. And for our entire city, these vaccinations represent another important step toward achieving community immunity against a deadly and devastating virus."
The city is starting the effort with 500 doses from Dallas County Health and Human Services.
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Six EMS teams will work to vaccinate 12 residents per day with the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.
The Meals on Wheels clients have several limitations that many other members of the general public do not - mobility, access to transportation, and understanding of technology.
"They're not connected to technology as well for the scheduling and all the things that are easy for some of us," said Karen Krause of VNA of Texas. "[These concerns] are very, are roadblocks."
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Dallas Fire-Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and VNA will be key helpers to find out who the vaccines should go to, as well as contact those residents and get the dose to them.
"Vaccines are the key to ending the terrible COVID-19 pandemic, and we are working hard to ensure everyone in our city has equitable access to these lifesaving triumphs of modern medicine," Johnson said.
For more information on the City's COVID-19 response efforts and vaccines, call 214-670-INFO (4636) or visit DallasCityHall.com/COVID19. To register for a vaccination please go to www.dallascountycovid.org or call 1-855-IMMUNE9 (855-466-8639) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
