Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium offers walk-up vaccinations for residents in Phase 1b

The Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium will now offer walk-up vaccinations for certain Philadelphia residents. 

City residents who are included in Phase 1B of vaccine distribution or live in zip codes that are hardest hit by COVID-19 will be able to receive a walk-up vaccination at the consortium’s sites, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Phase 1B includes people 75 and older, frontline workers at high risk for exposure, people with high-risk medical conditions, and people working and residing in congregate settings.

The consortium aims to address racial disparities in Philadelphia’s vaccine distribution which have  affected Black residents. Although over 40% of city residents are Black, only 22% of the city's doses have been administered to Black Philadelphians.

Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon and founder of the consortium, told the Inquirer that the walk-up process makes it easier for residents to receive vaccinations, particularly for residents who lack access to technology. In the past, many residents have needed to preregister for vaccines online or make appointments over the phone.

“If you had a computer or you had access to a smartphone, you could register,” Stanford told the Inquirer. “There are more people that don’t than that do.”

This week, the consortium will offer vaccinations at Temple University’s Liacorous Center on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Second vaccination shots will be offered at the Christian Stronghold Baptist Church on Thursday and Friday.

In February, the consortium conducted the city’s first 24-hour mass vaccination clinic and vaccinated almost 4,000 people.

Once the amount of vaccines administered reflect’s the city’s population, the consortium will expand access to its vaccination sites, Stanford told the Inquirer.