Health Department, Pikes Peak United Way team up to bring vaccines and food to underserved communities

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Health Department and Pikes Peak United Way are teaming up to bring vaccines and food to underserved communities in Southern Colorado.

Thursday's mobile vaccination clinic at Mitchell High School is just one of six stops the county's mobile vaccine unit will make this week alone.

"We've had about 40 cars here already since around 7 o'clock this morning," said Elizabeth Quevedo with Pikes Peak United Way. "To be able to provide vaccines for all these people is amazing."

"We really want to reach people who have not found it easy to access the vaccine," said Lisa Powell with the El Paso County Health Department. "People who don't know where to find it or they don't have transportation, or they have other barriers that make them afraid to get the vaccine."

Pikes Peak United Way has been serving underserved communities themselves, distributing food out of Mitchell High School every two weeks for almost two years. Twenty-five soldiers from Fort Carson volunteered for Thursday's distribution to help keep up with the high demand.

“I'm a former soldier myself, and I love when soldiers show up to my distributions," said Quevedo. "I didn't even know they were coming, but they're always great."

Vaccine eligible students at Mitchell High School get get vaccinated at Thursday's clinic, pending parent permission.

According to state data, kids up to age 19 now make up over 26% of all new Covid-19 cases reported the last week of April 2021.

Thursday's mobile unit will be offering the Phizer vaccine exclusively, which is currently the only vaccine approved for kids 16 and older.

The county's mobile vaccine unit will be making three more stops on Friday, May 7th.

Locations and times:

• Harrison High School: 10:00 a.m.
• Fountain Fort Carson High School: 11:00 a.m.
• Downtown Colorado Springs: 5:00 p.m.