[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 65 (Monday, April 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THANKING PHARMACIES AND HEALTH CENTERS FOR THEIR ROLE IN EQUITABLE 
                          VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RAUL RUIZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 2022

  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.

                          ____________________