Winnebago County health official outlines steps to improve equitable COVID-19 vaccine access

Lindsay Erickson, a community health strategist at the Winnebago County Health Department, told the Oshkosh City Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee that the county is working to reduce barriers to COVID-19 vaccination for people with limited internet access, transportation needs, language differences and mistrust of the health system.

Erickson said the department held its first public vaccination clinic at the Sunnyview Expo Center earlier in the month and that online appointment slots filled within about 40 minutes. "We did make the decision before that to hold back about 20% of appointments so that we could get people in who may not have access to Internet or technology, and for anyone else with barriers or difficulties with access," Erickson said.

The county is pairing that practice with other changes designed to reach people who are hard to connect with, Erickson said. Beginning March 1, free transportation will be available to individuals in Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties; funded…