DHS Deputy Secretary visits to thank staff for their dedication to vaccinating the community
City of Racine – Today, Racine County celebrates the one year anniversary of the AMI vaccination clinic at Regency Mall. The AMI clinic is funded through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and was established a year ago to help ensure the community had consistent and equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Our partnership with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare has been key in the statewide effort to provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations,” said DHS Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge. “We thank AMI for their dedication in working closely with local, state, and federal healthcare partners to coordinate the community-based vaccination clinics around the state. As a result, we were able to get more shots in arms and help protect Wisconsinites from COVID-19.”
AMI Racine staff have administered more than 36,000 doses of vaccine since opening the clinic at Regency Mall one year ago. During the same period of time, the County fully vaccination rate, went from 25% to 58%. The AMI clinic has maintained flexible hours of operation, including evening and weekend hours, and has also met community members in their neighborhoods and homes to expand access to vaccination. AMI staff administered 3,459 doses of vaccine to Racine County residents at 140 different mobile or pop-up clinics, and 132 doses to homebound patients.
“It remains an honor and privilege to be partners with State of Wisconsin, City of Racine and Racine County to help meet the vaccination needs of the community,” said Dan Beck, Senior Operations Manager for AMI Expeditionary Healthcare. “The past year has truly demonstrated the incredible impact that can be achieved by such a dynamic collaboration of state, local, public and private partners.”
The AMI location at Regency Mall serves as a central location in the County to provide consistency to County residents and also serves as a hub to support other initiatives and partnerships. AMI staff continue to partner with the County and City of Racine on neighborhood vaccination efforts with mobile vaccination clinics and clinics in local businesses and events. Racine Unified Schools have also partnered with AMI to provide regular clinics in several of their schools to make sure their children and families can get vaccinated.
“On behalf of Racine County Public Health Division, we thank AMI and DHS for their monumental contribution to COVID-19 vaccination efforts in Racine County,” said Racine County Public Health Officer Jeff Langlieb. “Their dedication, flexibility, reliability, and responsiveness to the community have been essential in ensuring that as many citizens have an opportunity to be vaccinated. We commend their efforts and welcome their ongoing commitment to serving the residents of Racine County.”
“AMI has been a critical partner in our vaccination efforts in the City of Racine. They created the capacity for us to be creative in both our vaccine education efforts and our ability to meet our residents where they are to help get them vaccinated. Without their support, our vaccination rates would be much lower and it is very possible that more City residents would have lost their lives to COVID-19. I thank DHS for committing the resources to Racine and the AMI staff for helping to protect our community,” said City of Racine Mayor Cory Mason.
Racine County residents are still encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not yet started the vaccination series, or to get their booster shot if have not yet done so. The AMI Clinic at Regency Mall is still free and open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11am to 5pm and Saturdays from 11am – 3pm.
