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. 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2144604.
doi: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2144604. Epub 2022 Nov 14.

Expanding access to COVID-19 testing, vaccination and treatment at a free clinic for uninsured Spanish-speaking adults in Providence, RI

Katherine Barry  1 , Johanna A Suskin  1 , Julia Testa  2 , Morgan Leonard  2 , Anne S De Groot  2   3
Affiliations

Expanding access to COVID-19 testing, vaccination and treatment at a free clinic for uninsured Spanish-speaking adults in Providence, RI

Katherine Barry et al. Hum Vaccin Immunother. .

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted uninsured and minority populations, contributing to and reinforcing long-lasting health inequities. Clínica Esperanza/Hope Clinic (CEHC), a free clinic serving uninsured individuals, is one 'safety-net' clinic that improved access to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for an at-risk population during the pandemic. A retrospective review was performed to quantify COVID-19 testing and vaccination rates for clinic participants, which were compared to rates in the general population. 51.7% of patients seeking COVID-related care at CEHC were uninsured, compared to 8% in Providence and 4.8% in Rhode Island. CEHC performed 5,623 COVID-19 tests for 4,498 unique individuals, a total of 15,783 vaccines were administered, and 10 to 20% of COVID-care participants reported food insecurity during the study period. The prevalence of COVID-19 in the uninsured population and the high demand for vaccines highlight the important role that free clinics can play in the pandemic setting.

Keywords: COVID-19; disparities; free clinic; uninsured; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Demographics of participants in COVID-19 testing at CEHC (N = 4,498).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
CEHC patients had higher test positivity rates than the city of Providence. Monthly testing rate and positivity are shown for Providence and the clinic.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
ZIP codes of individuals participating in COVID-19 testing at CEHC.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Vaccines administered by Clinica Esperanza/hope clinic volunteers and staff.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Vaccination rates at Clinica Esperanza/hope clinic’s test to treat site.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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