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Pop-Up COVID-19 vaccine clinic aims to get African American community vaccinated

vaccine
Posted at 6:27 PM, May 14, 2021
and last updated 2021-05-14 19:27:38-04

APPLETON — A free pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic is being held in Appleton Saturday to increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations to individuals in the African American community.

The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15 at Taperz Barbershop, 203 N. Richmond St., Appleton.

Those interested in receiving the vaccine are asked to register, but walk-ins are also welcome with limited availability. Individuals will receive the Pfizer vaccine. The second dose clinic will be held between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12.

All who get their vaccine during this pop-up clinic will receive a free 6-piece chicken dinner from Jimmy’s Chicken & Fish to be used same-day.

The clinic is being hosted by People of Progression and the Tri-County Multicultural Communications Committee.

"We're not trying to convince anybody yes or no that they should get a vaccine or they shouldn't get a vaccine," said Cainan Davenport, People of Progression president. "We're merely just making an opportunity and facilitating the people that do want to get a vaccine."

Several community organizations are working together to increase COVID-19 vaccination accessibility to individuals in the African American community. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, African Americans are being vaccinated at a rate lower than other races, including Native American and Asian individuals.

"Studies show that the African American community has been hit pretty hard by COVID," Davenport said. "Not to even mention the distrust that some of us have for healthcare and government issues ... so therefore, we just thought we would do it to facilitate the people that want to get the vaccine."