EMCSD Provides Over 4000 COVID Vaccines to Community
January 26, 2022
Since May 2021, the El Monte City School District has consistently provided COVID-19 vaccine opportunities to the El Monte and LA County community. With 20 pop-up clinics over the last 8 months, EMCSD has successfully vaccinated 4,233 people and plans to continue their efforts as long as possible.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that equity stays at the forefront of our planning and implementation of these pop-up clinics,” said Christina Davila, the Executive Administrator of the Jeff Seymour Family Center and lead of EMCSD’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. “This pandemic has amplified many inequities throughout our social systems and we believe it is our job to help break down whatever barriers necessary to help serve our community.”
Throughout all 19 of EMCSD’s clinics, appointments have been encouraged, but not required, so that patients who lack access to technology or the internet have a chance to get vaccinated. All pop-up clinics have been “walk-ups” so that a lack of transportation would not be a hindrance. Many schools throughout EMCSD are large walking communities, especially the Southern and Western schools.
Before vaccines became available, EMCSD provided weekly COVID-19 testing opportunities at the Jeff Seymour Family Center. Once vaccines were approved for the general public, Superintendent Dr. Maribel Garcia wanted families to be able to obtain them at places they trusted - schools. “El Monte City School District has always been a reliable partner to our families, and now more than ever, I want us to be the resource hub they need,” she explained.
It seems her goals are being met. Over 500 vaccinations the District has provided came at its most recent clinics at the Jeff Seymour Family Center and Frank Wright School on January 7 and 8. It was the District's largest vaccination operation to date. “Ms. Davila, her partners, and volunteers have done outstanding work in providing ample access to the vaccine, and with the most recent surge of the Omicron variant, the need is at an all-time high,” said Dr. Garcia.
EMCSD has worked with various medical outlets including the Tzu Chi Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, El Monte Pharmacy, Chinatown Service Center, and the East Valley Community Health Center to provide Pfizer vaccine and boosters to children and adults.
The next clinic will be at the Jeff Seymour Family Center on Thursday, January 27 from 2:00pm - 4:45pm. Pfizer vaccines and boosters will be made available to anyone eligible. Onsite staff can assist patients who speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. If you have any questions about the clinic, please call the Jeff Seymour Family Center at (626) 453-3700 ext. 3651.