DC Housing Authority (DCHA) will vaccinate seniors living at Greenleaf (1200 Delaware Ave. SW) starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11.
DCHA staff are partnering with the Department of Health and community health partners, including Johns Hopkins Sibley Hospital, to vaccinate senior citizens living in DCHA properties beginning this week.
DCHA is an independent authority of the District government, meaning it has a legal existence separate from DC government. The bulk of the authority’s funding comes from federal government programs.
On Monday, DCHA vaccinated 72 seniors at the first of the sites: Potomac Gardens Apartments (700 12th St. SE), a representative from Councilmember Charles Allen’s office told Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B.
Commissioner for the area Edward Ryder (6B07) said that he only received notice of the program Sunday evening, the night before the clinic. He said he was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more advanced notice to the ANC and neighbors. “We could potentially have organized to ensure more people were vaccinated,” Ryder said.
Speaking at the Feb. 9 meeting, Allen himself said that DCHA had distributed information fliers Sunday afternoon about the Monday opprotunity for vaccination at Potomac Gardens. When his office learned about the vaccination clinic, Allen said his office began reaching out to residents.
“We talked with the resident Council leadership and they were unaware that the next day there was going to be this clinic,” Allen told commissioners. Allen called it a “missed opportunity,” noting that DCHA was unlikely to come back to the complex in the near future.
DCHA did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
In a news release, DCHA said that seniors pre-register for the vaccine following outreach by DCHA communications and engagement team and resident leaders. John Hopkins Medical then arrives at the DCHA senior property, sets up the clinic and a separate observation area to begin administering doses.
Seniors are scheduled for their second dose immediately following their first dose, DCHA wrote, then move to the observation area for medical staff monitoring for 15 minutes before returning to their homes.
Outreach is underway for the next DCHA senior vaccination clinic at Greenleaf. Allen’s office is aware of the clinic and will be on site, and at the Feb. 9meeting representatives made plans to work with volunteers from Ward 6 Mutual Aid. Those volunteers could assist with door-knocking and helping seniors get to the vaccination site and back.
DCHA also provided notice to the ANC Commissioner for the SMD in which the Greenleaf Senior complex is located. Reached by telephone Wednesday, Rhonda Hamiliton (6D06) said that she had been made aware of the vaccination clinic, adding that she thought DCHA was finding its feet.
The pilot program will continue through February, serving seniors who live in DCHA properties. All other resident 65+ should register for appointments by calling the District’s hotline at 855-363-
