Thanking Pharmacies and Health Centers for Their Role in Equitable Vaccine Distribution

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Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend pharmacies and health centers for their efforts in distributing COVID-19 vaccines to underserved communities throughout Southern California, including in the Coachella Valley.

In February of 2021, I called upon retail pharmacies, including Rite Aid, to expand the number of their vaccination sites located in high- risk, underserved communities in eastern Riverside County, where my district lies. Twelve communities in my district are defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as Medically Underserved Areas, including Blythe, Hemet, San Jacinto, Coachella, Indio, Idyllwild/Pine Cove, Banning, Beaumont, and Chiriaco Summit/ Desert Center. Many of these same communities were hit particularly hard by the pandemic and began to experience disparities in vaccination rates.

I am grateful to the businesses and organizations that answered this call and stepped up to promote vaccine equity. Following my letter, several additional vaccine sites and mobile vaccine clinics in vulnerable and underserved communities were opened in my district, increasing access for high-risk individuals.

I was honored to collaborate with organizations including Rite Aid Pharmacy, Desert Healthcare Clinic, Eisenhower Health, and the Riverside University Health System on multiple on-the-ground mobile clinics throughout 2021. As an emergency medicine physician, I was able to directly administer vaccines to my constituents, while observing the vital work that these groups brought to our region. Thanks to pharmacy organizations, health centers, several wonderful local organizations, President Biden's federal retail pharmacy program, and the Health Equity Task Force, we were not only able to bring COVID-19 vaccines to pharmacies located in the hardest-to-reach communities, but also take vaccines directly to the people.

Over the last 12 months, the Coachella Valley's vaccination rate for residents 12 and over has risen to over 80 percent. These high vaccination rates have proven to be lifesaving as the region continues to face challenges presented by COVID-19 and its variants. I am grateful for the collaborative effort that played a critical role in addressing vaccine equity and am happy that my high-risk constituents now have much-needed access to COVID-19 vaccines.

On behalf of the great people of California's 36th Congressional District, thank you to the pharmacies, health centers, health systems, and local organizations for your work to bring equitable health and vaccine access to our district. I look forward to continuing our shared work to address health disparities and protect underserved populations throughout communities across the nation.

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