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Contra Costa's Mobile Vaccine Teams Deliver Shots To Hard-To-Reach Seniors

Angela Johnston
A mobile vaccine team leaves the low income complex in Martinez and heads to another site in Contra Costa County.

Over half of Californians 65 and older have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It’s a big milestone as we approach the anniversary of the lockdown. But this doesn't mean shots have been distributed equitably. Data shows that counties have disproportionately vaccinated white, wealthy people, not the Latinx and Black community members who have been hit harder by COVID-19. 

Now, California recently announced it's reserving40% of doses for disadvantaged communities. For weeks, Contra Costa County has been tackling equity on its own, bringing vaccines directly to hard to reach seniors. In this story, we tag along with the one of the county’s mobile vaccine team as they give second doses tp seniors and their caregivers at a low-income apartment complex in Martinez.

Click the play button above to listen.

Angela Johnston is the Senior Producer of Uncuffed and an editor in the KALW newsroom. She holds a Master’s degree in journalism and graduated from KALW’s Audio Academy program. She’s worked for KALW in numerous roles - from the deputy news director, to the health and environment reporter, and she's covered everything from lead poisoning to climate change. Her work has aired on KALW, KQED, Reveal, and The Pulse. She also freelances as a producer and editor for Cosmic Standard and AFAR Media. Outside of work, she loves to swim in the bay, surf small waves on her longboard, read, backpack, cook, and garden.