The City of Topeka is partnering with the Shawnee County Health Department and the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging to help our neighbors who are 65 and over to complete the COVID-19 vaccination interest survey through Pop-Up Survey Clinics. Several people over the age of 65 in our community have a variety of impeding factors that prevent them from completing the survey including a lack of computer accessibility, no internet availability, no cell phone number, no email address or a lack of vaccine educational information. In an effort to ensure equitability for all of our 65 and older neighbors, a plan of action has been implemented for the months of February through April to help complete the survey. The events will take place during the day, one evening a week and one Saturday a month to provide participants with a variety of options to receive help to complete the survey.
“Shawnee County is dedicated to an equitable distribution of vaccine in our communities. We are grateful for partnerships that will help us reach those with limited resources. As our mission states, we are committed to working in partnership with our community to protect the optimal health of all people by bridging gaps,” said Derik Flerlage, Infectious Disease Division Manager at the Shawnee County Health Department.
The first Pop-Up Clinic will be Saturday, February 20th from 9-11 a.m. at the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging located at 2910 SW Topeka Boulevard. It is estimated that hundreds of people in our community will be able to obtain the vaccination who otherwise could have potentially been omitted due to the barriers of accessing the vaccination interest survey. Additional times and places of the Pop-Up Survey Clinics will be announced in advance once they are scheduled.
The Pop-Up Survey Clinics will consist of the following:
- Pop-Up Survey Clinics at local senior housing facilities
- Pop-Up Mobile Survey Clinics at various locations throughout the community
Social distancing mandates will be adhered to and the team will be equipped with PPE gear during the events in an effort to ensure everyone’s safety. Participants will be required to wear a facial mask.
For additional information on the Shawnee County Health Department contact Craig Barnes at 785-251-5612.
For additional information and questions pertaining to seniors please contact Susan Harris at the Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging at sharris@hawkaaa.org or 785-235-1367.
For additional information and questions on Pop-Up Events please contact Monique Glaudeˊ, Director of Community Engagement & Ombudsman for the City of Topeka at mglaude@topka.org or 785-368-4470.