Awakening
The Coronavirus pandemic hit every global news outlet’s headlines overnight. As the virus progressed, everyone became even more and more worried and was almost never allowed to leave their neighborhood. Along with the millions of stories that circulated about this pandemic, anyone who had health problems would make them very vulnerable if they were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Impact
These micro monsters are heavily affecting labor markets, economies, and enterprises, including global supply chains, leading to widespread business disruptions. Governments, institutions, and communities in the United States and around the world are grappling with the impact of COVID-19, however, a solution and effort should be made, which is a vaccination program. Success in the rollout of the vaccination program requires that large numbers of people get the vaccine, quickly, equitably, and effectively. Importantly, this involves both the willing participation of the population and well-functioning government administration of the program.
Community Partnership
Los Angeles Department of Public Health made a remarkable program that would help scale the vaccine effort for the community by partnering with the community providers. Parth Parikh, the owner of Pico and Price Pharmacies, is one of the community providers. Parth and his wife, Uchita, started the Pharmacy with the commitment to bridge health disparities in their community. He invested in technology and training even before the vaccines launched. His team is dedicated and played a critical role in the execution, including, planning, identification of target groups, community engagement and mobilization, service delivery, and tracking and follow-up.
With his commitment and service to building an effective community partnership and scaling the process of mass community work, he was chosen for the 2022 DPH Community Partners Values Award. Under Parikh’s leadership, Pico and Price care pharmacies have been a part of the network of DPH community providers since late 2020. While his team collaboration began with the Covid vaccine, their support has proven integral to helping vaccinate children, link patients to telehealth services, administer therapeutics, and vaccinate residents against monkeypox embracing new ways of addressing complex emerging challenges is commonplace at Pico Care and Price Care Pharmacies.
See Award Presentation
Special thanks to our outstanding community partners:
- Los Angeles DPH
- Sarva Mangal Family Trust
- Dr. Shah
- Saahas
- Joy of Sharing
- Sahara
- City of Norwalk
- ABC USD
- City of Pico Rivera
- ERUSD
- City of Bell Gardens
- And many more