FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)-The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) and Tarrant County has opened a COVID-19 vaccination site in Fort Worth’s Stop Six neighborhood with an initial goal of administering 1,000 shots in the first week.
The vaccine site is located at Brighter Outlook Inc., 4910 Dunbar St., a facility operated by Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. The location is by appointment-only.
The new vaccination hub is part of a collaboration between HSC and Tarrant County to expand access to the vaccine in historically underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Tarrant County will allocate the vaccine doses and contact people to make appointments to receive the vaccine at the new site. Distribution will adhere to the tiered system established by Gov. Greg Abbott.
“HSC is excited to partner with Tarrant County and leaders in the Stop Six community to bring this vaccination opportunity directly to the people who live here,” said Dr. Sylvia Trent-Adams, HSC Chief Strategy Officer. “It has truly been a community effort to make this site a reality.” Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks called the new vaccine site “precisely what was needed to reach communities who have not had adequate access to the vaccine.”
“We already know through some of our outreach efforts that you can achieve dramatic improvements with a concerted effort,” Commissioner Brooks said. “This is an excellent start in our collaboration with HSC to get shots in the arms of all Tarrant County residents.”
In addition to the vaccination site, HSC student volunteers will be on-site hosting a registration drive to help visitors navigate the registration process, as a lack of internet access and technical barriers have been identified as a registration obstacle for many residents in these underserved communities.
“Without question, there is a great need for this community to be vaccinated. We are excited to partner with HSC and Tarrant County to be able to assist those in southeast Fort Worth and beyond in securing protection from such a dangerous virus,” said Rev. Bruce D. Datcher of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. “Our goal is to assist as many as possible to get the vaccine and encourage others to become vaccinated.”
