Ventura County opens pop-up vaccination clinics to reach more people

OXNARD, Calif. – Ventura County officials say they are still seeing lower numbers of people signing to get vaccinated. To boost numbers the county is rolling out pop-up vaccine sites in different areas.

Ventura County public health workers are going door to door letting people know a vaccine pop-up site is in their community.

“We do have a team out right now,” said Hannah Edmondson, a nurse for Ventura County Public Health. “They are going from door to door letting residents in the community know that we are here and we are available, and that they do not need an appointment. They can just come over right now and get a vaccine.”

With the number of people signing up for vaccine appointments decreasing, the county launched its mobile team to bring vaccinations to the community.

“Our pop-ups are designed to go where the need is, where the people are,” said Edmondson. “We hope to make it very easy for them, so they don’t have to preregister, they don’t have to find an appointment. They can just walk up today. We are going to help them with registration and get them in immediately.”

On Monday, the pop-up site was set up at the Colonia Gym in Oxnard. Gerardo Chavez got a knock on his door, and took advantage of the opportunity.

“They gave us one of those flyers,” said Chavez. “It was pretty good because we are close so we walked over and now we are done.”

The County says the decrease in vaccinations is because of vaccine hesitancy, but these pop-ups give health experts time to talk to people and address concerns.

“We have bicultural/bilingual staff,” said Edmondson. “We will make this very easy for you and walk you through the process to make sure that you feel comfortable and we will be here for you for your second dose when it is time for that.”