Strong history of community partnerships in the gorge, June 25

Right along one of the main streets into town and up to the orchards in The Dalles is St. Mary’s Academy. The school has been a fixture in the community for more than a century, but now the school’s parking lot has transformed into a fixture of its own. The lot is the foremost COVID-19 vaccine location for Wasco County residents and those who come to the area to work during the farming season. “It’s a great partnership and kind of a ‘one stop shop,’ that everyone in the community can take advantage of as well as hosting and being able to welcome the migrant workers. This clinic is open six days a week with extended hours to 6 p.m., making it convenient for people getting out of work,” said Shellie Campbell, NCPHD Director. NCPHD is the only three-county local health department in Oregon serving Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam Counties. A staff member at the vaccine unit administers a vaccine. Just like every local public health authority right now, NCPHD has had to get creative on how they’re getting shots into arms. Staff members are working with community partners like Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC) which is helping serve the migrant families and children that come in. “We’ve seen some farms that have brought in vans or buses with staff to be able to provide that opportunity to their employees. Most growers are encouraging vaccinations and making that opportunity available by telling workers about this clinic and by offering transportation – it just makes it that much easier to come in and receive a vaccine,” said Jen Heredia, OCDC Program Director for Hood River and Wasco Counties. Campbell says in Wasco County, up to 6,000 migrant workers and their families come through to work. “As we all know, this virus spreads and we need to make sure that our whole community and that the economics of the community are supported by getting people – all people vaccinated.”