(WWJ) Would you like fries with that COVID shot?
In another effort to bring the coronavirus vaccine to the community, Health Alliance Plan has joined forces with a McDonald's franchise on 8 Mile Road in Detroit.
A free Pfizer vaccine was being offered to anyone who wants one, at the fast food restaurant at 8 Mile and Lahser Rd., on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
"We're here until 4 o'clock with the the global health inititive from Henry Ford Health System," Bridget Hollingsworth, Director of Community Outreach for HAP, told WWJ's Jon Hewett. "We also have our team from HAP with swag and fun stuff...And as you can hear we've got musical entertainment!"
"We'll also have photos," she added. "So people can have a photo taken that's ready to share on social media; ready to tell people that they got their shot today."
The concept of bringing vaccines to fast food restaurants saw some success in the Flint area, so HAP decided to try it again in Detroit.
Explained Dr. Peter Watson, Vice President of Clinical Operations with HAP:
"We're really trying to bring the vaccine to people, in a way that we can hopefully break down their unwillingness to get the vaccine. Get them in the moment; get then to make a decision to get that shot so that they can protect themselves."
Watson, who is also a practicing staff physician at several Henry Ford inpatient facilities, said since the end of July the rate of COVID inpatients has gone up three-fold. The spike, he said, has predominantly been driven by the Delta variant.
Of those on ventilators, he said more than 90% locally are unvaccinated.
Watson said the goal is to break down the apprehension that some still have about vaccines.
"I think COVID has taught us that there's a real opportunity to educate people more effectively about the power of vaccines, and just how many lives they've saved over the many, many years that we've had them for all kinds of viruses; not just COVID," Watson said.
Those who get vaccinated at the McDonald's event will receive a free frozen drink.
