Since February, a group of people who live in homeless shelters have been working to encourage those around them to get Covid vaccines. The Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has trained these Vaccine Ambassadors and pays them $300 a month.
There is also a financial incentive for anyone the ambassadors convince to take the jab. After speaking to the ambassadors and getting a full round of COVID-19 shots (Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson), participants get a $50 gift card. In the past two months, dozens of people experiencing homelessness have been fully vaccinated after speaking with someone on the team.
For two ambassadors, the program – which counts half a dozen members – is about much more than the money. Dominai Taylor and Joseph Aggar stay at the Ife Wellness Center, an emergency shelter site in North Philadelphia. They both lost loved ones early in the pandemic. We asked them about their experience as OHS Vaccine Ambassadors.
Why did you become involved in the Vaccine Ambassadors program?
Dominai: I’m not doing this just for a dollar. I’m doing it because I have family who lost their life to this. I watched my grandma die very suddenly. My grandma passed Covid to my cousin, who was just 36 years old. My cousin was in a coma but was able to fight it through. So, it’s very personal. My grandma was such a role model in the family, and we wondered “who is going to keep the family together now?” For me, I do this because life is precious. I realized that I wanted to use my voice to get people vaccinated.
Joseph: I’ve also lost someone close to me and it was a complete shock. It’s my main reason for getting involved. This was the strongest person in my family, and they passed from it in a month! It made me question so many different things. I lived on the streets for months. Why was I never exposed? It just baffled me. That is a big reason why I am doing this. I feel it’s really important, and it’s helping save lives.
How do you convince people to get vaccinated?
Dominai: My main goal is to make the person feel as comfortable as possible and give them all the information. A lot of times I bring up my grandma who I lost. It’s all about whether they feel comfortable. They may have built a wall up, and think the vaccine is going to hurt them.
Joseph: One thing that I feel people can relate to when they are hesitant is the fact that our lives are getting back to normal now, and I bring that to their attention. Our lives are relatively getting back to the way they were before, and that is one hundred percent all from vaccinations. And we have the [$50 gift card] incentive. The people we are meeting, they are just beginning their lives over, they’re not in the greatest situation financially. Everyone loves an incentive.
What’s the hardest part of the work?
Joseph: Last week I was speaking to someone about the vaccine and their response was “I’m not worried about catching Covid, I’m worried about catching a bullet when I walk around this corner in five minutes.” Some of the people we come across, they feel they have bigger issues than the disease. It makes me sad, and I feel for them. That’s what makes it hard for me.
Dominai: It’s hard when I talk to women with children, who say they don’t want their children to get the vaccines. I wonder what they tell their children. I feel so hurt. Sometimes people say “no,” but we have to take comfort in that we planted the seed.
What’s the best part?
Dominai: I love it when the people get vaccinated! It’s like I saved another person, and I feel so good.
Joseph: Every person that agrees to get vaccinated is a win. You try to let them know that too: You are not just protecting your life, you are protecting those around you, and you’re helping the world get back to normal. When the pandemic first hit, I was on the street, and experienced so many dangerous situations. But I came through it. I have been blessed so many times that there has to be a reason. That’s why we do this. We’ve been given so much, we have to give back. I think it’s how it works.
OHS’s Policy, Planning, and Performance (P3) unit designed the Vaccine Ambassador’s program, which is run in collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Philly Youth Count provided training to the Ambassadors. The program is overseen by Shelter Services Administrator Keisha Moore-Johnson with the assistance of Social Service Program Analyst Christoria Douglas.