VEPE Project

In partnership with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Fund for Public Health (FPH) NYC, and in collaboration with key partners in our borough, SI COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) is continuing to respond to COVID-19 through the Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement (VEPE) Project. Organizational partners in this work include: Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness, the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, Super Health Pharmacy, and the Pediatric Disaster Coalition. 

Thank you to our Subcontracting Partners:

Thank You to our Funding Partners

Community Listening Sessions 

Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness focused on providing Community Listening Sessions to understand our community’s perspective of COVID-19. They have contributed their time in efforts in: 

• Listening sessions/focus groups to meet people where they are at 
• Motivational interviewing 
• Data gathering and information collection 
• Informed tailored messaging and overall VEPE Team approach 

---

Tailored Messaging 

NYC Pediatric Disaster Collision and Staten Island Community in Active Disasters (SI COAD): 

• Utilized information and data from community listening sessions 
• Identified most at-risk groups within our communities 
• Aimed to address vaccine hesitancy  
• Approach of community members first, authorities second 

---

Frank Blancero’s COVID Story

Frank Blancero shares his COVID story as a Staten Islander from Dongan Hills with his background as a Program Director of Staten Island Community Organizations Active in Disaster (SI COAD).  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SI COAD has responded to community needs by sharing valuable information and resources across our borough, by collaborating among our coalition partners to distribute PPE, test kits, and other life-saving supplies, and by engaging Staten Islanders so that we all do our part in keeping Staten Island strong and safe. Over the last six months, SI COAD has worked closely with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the Fund for Public Health in New York, and several local partners to take part in the Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement (VEPE) project, as highlighted in this video.  

Thanks to NYC DOHMH, the Fund for Public Health in New York, the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness (SIPCW), the Pediatric Disaster Coalition (PDC), the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Staten Island, and Super Health Pharmacy! 

---

Sam Cristy’s COVID Story

Sam Cristy of SIPCW shares his COVID story and the impact of COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccines were not always available to protect us, but today they are readily accessible to Staten Islanders, and the new bivalent booster provides the most protection against the original variant as well as the most dominant subvariants today. Get vaccinated Staten Island! 

---

Dr. Mayank A. Parikh’s COVID Story

As the final video short in SI COAD’s series of videos highlighting work on the Vaccine Equity Partner Engagement program, we share Dr. Mayank A. Parikh’s COVID Story. When COVID-19 hit our community, Super Health Pharmacy started off by donating hand sanitizer to first responders. While collaborating with Cut Red Tape for Heros, they have donated over 1,000,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). With the support of pharmacists, nurses, student pharmacists, and practitioners they were able to collectively administer greater than 30,000 COVID-19 vaccines and administer over 100,000 COVID-19 tests. It is important to get your COVID-19 vaccine because it prevents serious illnesses and hospitalizations, and it protects your loved ones. Act now as it may take a couple of weeks to be fully effective. The vaccine is free, safe, and effective side effects are usually mild. 

---

In-Person Communication 

Though the 6-month period, Jewish Community Center of Staten Island (JCC) organized a total of 31 In-Person Communication outreach in the boroughs of 10301,10304, 10306, 10308, 10309, 10312, 10314, and 11219. They provided: 

• Weekly engagements with members of the community on the South Shore 
• Addressing vaccine hesitancy 
• Focused vaccination in person engagement on youth and elderly  

---

---