Hope in a bottle” has become the coined phrase that refers to the COVID-19 vaccine, which has proven to be a long-awaited solution to bring an end to the pandemic. Health care workers across the country, particularly hospital employees who have been on the frontlines of the fight against COVID, were first in line for the vaccines when they became available late last year.
“The one thing we know we can do to make things better and start to heal is to end the pandemic by vaccinating everyone,” stated Nicholas Testa, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Dignity Health’s Southern California Division.
In Los Angeles County, one of the very first doses of Pfizer was administered on December 17, 2020 at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center (GMHHC). Laura Kenegos, ICU Charge Nurse, was the first person to receive the COVID vaccine at the hospital, administered by GMHHC’s President, Jill Welton, MSN, RN.
Kenegos was overcome with emotion as she uttered the words, “This is hope.”
One of the most diverse communities in Southern California is the heart of Downtown Los Angeles and Dignity Health – California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) is in the middle of it. Being in Downtown LA, the surrounding neighborhoods have suffered the worst of the pandemic. CHMC has cared for hundreds of COVID patients over the past 18 months, while also vaccinating thousands of Angelenos at the height of the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed all of our lives in different ways.
“We know that our communities of color are disproportionately impacted and we are doing our part to help save lives,” shared Julie J. Sprengel, President, Dignity Health’s Southern California Division. “To reach those populations at highest risk, we knew we needed to take vaccination clinics out of our hospitals and into the most diverse communities who were hit the hardest; those with limited access to health care, pre-existing conditions, comorbidities, housing, and financial impacts.”
To meet the needs of our communities, Dignity Health realized it could quickly vaccinate thousands at a much larger venue. As such, in February and March of this year, Dignity Health joined forces with AEG, the world’s leading sports and entertainment company, the LA Galaxy, and the city of Carson to successfully vaccinate more than 20,000 people from across Los Angeles by hosting a large-scale event at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Dignity Health worked directly with LA Care and the city of Carson to identify and register as many at-risk seniors in underserved areas as possible. This massive undertaking didn’t just happen once as a single-dose clinic, but over the course of two weeks, to deliver first and second dose Moderna vaccines to 20,248 people who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to receive them.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic was no small feat – it involved weeks of planning, allocation of vaccine supplies, more than 1,000 volunteers from Dignity Health hospitals, Dignity Health Sports Park, and nine nursing schools. This vaccination event provided hands-on clinical training hours for nursing students who struggled to receive clinical experience throughout the pandemic. Dignity Health thanks CBD College, Concorde Career College, Inland Career Education Center, Pacific College, Pasadena City College, Mount St. Mary’s University, University of San Francisco, US Tech School, and West Coast University.
The Dignity Health Vaccination Clinic would not have been possible without the incredible partnership and collaborative efforts of AEG, the LA Galaxy, and the city of Carson, who all recognized the importance of protecting our communities from COVID. The success of the event included resources to safely operate the clinic from the LA County Sheriff’s Department and Cal State Dominguez Hills Police Department. Additional support came in the way of food and beverage donations to keep the volunteers fed and hydrated as they tirelessly served others from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Held as an outdoor event, volunteers weathered the elements – including a high winds day, a rainy day, hot days, and cold nights – all for the combined effort to save more lives.
At Dignity Health, the mission has always been to improve the health of the people it serves while addressing inequities in health care.
“The COVID-19 vaccine efforts have been an incredible reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together,” noted Sprengel. “Being a part of vaccinating our most vulnerable means being a part of something truly special – healing our communities and providing hope for our future.”
If you are not already vaccinated against COVID-19, please get vaccinated as soon as possible. In addition to keeping those around you safe, COVID-19 vaccines are effective. Unvaccinated Californians age 12 and up can go to myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255 to schedule an appointment or go to myturn.ca.gov/clinic to find a walk-in clinic near you. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, please call your health care provider.
To find a Dignity Health hospital or urgent care, visit dignityhealth.org.
