The ultimate goal of the COVID-19 vaccine is to save lives and slow the spread of the virus. For many, access is simple. For others, it is not. Since receiving the first doses of vaccines in January, Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP) has administered more than 10,000 doses.

“As a Federally Qualified Health Center, our mission is to make high quality health care accessible to all. For that reason, we’ve worked hard to make COVID-19 testing and vaccines available to the more vulnerable and underserved Black, Hispanic/Latino, low-income and refugee populations in our community,” says Jean Polster, NFP’s president and chief executive officer. “We’ve done this through our community health center locations and in partnership with other local organizations.”

NFP’s latest partnership for vaccine administration is with the Community Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) at Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC). The organizations worked together to produce a video (link below) about COVID-19 vaccines specifically for individuals with communication challenges. The video features Melanie Golembiewski, MD, MPH, NFP’s associate medical director answering vaccine questions (in English & Spanish) with the support of a sign language interpreter.

On Friday, April 9 from 8:30 am – 12 noon, NFP medical personnel will be on site at CHSC’s main location (11635 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland) to administer vaccines to those with special communication needs. Registration is required. Sign up at: http://bit.ly/CHSCvaccine.

“We’re thrilled partner with NFP to make the COVID-19 vaccine available to the deaf and hard of hearing in our community,” says CCDHH Director Maria O’Neil-Ruddock. “By producing the video and conducting this vaccine clinic, we’re helping overcome some of the challenges those with disabilities face in getting a vaccine.”

About Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

In 2021, Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC) celebrates 100 years of providing communication access to the greater Cleveland community. CHSC is the nation’s oldest hearing and speech center and northeast Ohio’s only nonprofit organization dedicated solely to serving the deaf and hard of hearing. CHSC provides speech-language, hearing, language interpreting, and deaf services; advocates for equal access to information and communication; and values all individuals’ language choices equally. For more information, visit chsc.org.