Sacramento Fire Department staff — working as a part of “mobile teams” — on Thursday vaccinated dozens of people against COVID-19, mostly in areas of downtown underneath the I-50 freeway near W and X streets.
The effort was part of a collaboration between Council member Katie Valenzuela, the Sacramento Fire Department, UC Davis Emergency Medicine, as well as homeless outreach and advocacy groups, to vaccinate people experiencing homelessness.
Staff say it’s the first and largest effort of its kind.
“Our goal is to meet people where they are and ensure that everyone, in our community, has access to get the vaccine,” said Sacramento Fire Department Chief Gary Loesch.
The mobile teams walked block by block under the freeway, offering people Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations.
About 65 people experiencing homelessness received the single-dose vaccine, which were provided by the Sacramento County Department of Public Health.
Sac Fire personnel on Thursday also participated in the vaccination clinic hosted by Council member Angelique Ashby at Natomas High School. More than 2,200 people received shots at the clinic, which launched in February and has been operating every Thursday.
From 2-5 p.m. Friday, Sac Fire will be at the Macedonia Baptist Church (700 Benton Ave.) in North Sacramento providing vaccinations to community members.
People interested in information on COVID-19 vaccines can visit the Sacramento County Department of Public Health website.