A language barrier can often be a reason individuals in our ESL-speaking population do not seek out help, health care, or other essential services. Pair that with a low-income population, and other challenges such as transportation, childcare needs and/or access and affordability to obtaining proper identification and those numbers drop even more. 

We knew there had to be a solution. Based on demographic information, Sauk Prairie Healthcare—in conjunction with Sauk County Health Department—planned and held two COVID-19 vaccine clinics at a mobile home development just on the outskirts of town. If they could not get to Sauk Prairie Healthcare, Sauk Prairie Healthcare would go to them and make the process as easy as possible. 

Two bilingual providers were brought in to administer the vaccinations, and bilingual signage and vaccination cards (with dates for the second dose) were provided. A free food cart was onsite for people to enjoy during the required 15-minute waiting period following the vaccine.  

“We went out there with the feeling that even if we only gave one person a vaccination, it was a success,” said Sauk Prairie Healthcare Business Development Analyst Brenda Humbracht. “And we did have people show up.” 

From seniors to teens, Humbracht said people were very appreciative of the effort. 

“A lot of them stuck around and chatted with our providers, and visited the food cart,” she said. “In the end we had a nice mix of people who got vaccinated, ate, and visited with one another. It was a nice, socially distant outdoor event.”