Building Trust and Expanding Access: Kaiser Permanente and BACH Joint Efforts to Promote Vaccine Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted underserved communities, prompting Bay Area Community Health (BACH) to act with the support of Kaiser Permanente. In 2021-2022, Kaiser Permanente awarded BACH a grant to reduce healthcare barriers through the COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination and Vaccine Confidence Messaging Campaign. The initiative introduced a multilingual Open Scheduling platform, making it easier for patients to manage their healthcare. 

In 2022-2023, BACH’s Community Health Workers (CHWs) provided outreach and education through the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Campaign, conducting door-to-door efforts to connect individuals with local vaccination events. Kaiser Permanente also supported BACH’s Promotores Program, where bilingual community health workers helped low-income clients access critical healthcare resources, reaching thousands of individuals with vital information and intensive case management. 

Additionally, Kaiser Permanente sponsored BACH’s Ohana Health & Resource Fair, attracting over 600 participants for health screenings and education. This year, the ongoing partnership with Kaiser Permanente is supporting the South Bay and Greater Southern Alameda Access to Care Projects, which focus on outreach and enrollment assistance for low-income individuals, particularly immigrants and mixed-status families. These projects increase access to healthcare coverage and CalFresh enrollment, making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable communities. 

Thanks to Kaiser Permanente’s sustained support, BACH has been able to provide crucial health care services and education, fostering trust and empowering residents to take charge of their health during the pandemic and beyond. BACH deeply values this long-standing partnership, which continues to make a profound, positive impact on thousands of Bay Area residents.