Amid the American government’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination, one Mississippi native created a business to make sure her local community is covered.
Pam Chatman has been aiding in the vaccine rollout in the Missippi Delta through her Vaccine Transporation Initiative (VTI), WBUR reports. Since founding her company Boss Lady Workforce Transportation, Chatman has been spearheading a campaign that provides transportation to vaccination sites, creates local vaccine pop-ups, and helps educate the local community on receiving the vaccine.
With a lack of reliable resources to get vaccinated, Chatman saw the need to assist her neighbors surrounding her Cleveland, Mississippi, community. “We know here in rural Mississippi, a lot of places here do not have internet, So, it was difficult for them to register,”
Chatman told Atlanta Black Star.In addition to the mobile vaccination service and pop-ups, Chatman’s VTI initiative has also been going into the homes of homebound patients and giving them the vaccine.
“We are now going into Black communities taking mobile facilities there and actually meeting the people and serving the people where they are,” Chatman said. “We’re going into their communities, into their churches, and providing them the vaccine.”
Melvin Curry, co-owner of Life Savers Assisted Living, recalled how seamless his vaccination experience was thanks to VTI. The initiative helped Curry and 15 others, including his wife, staff, and clients, receive the vaccine. “It was very smooth,” Curry said. “There were no issues as far as our clients. Everything went well.”
Hernando, Missippi, native Keith Fulcher praised
Chatman for being “the Mother Teresa of the Mississippi Delta” with her groundbreaking VTI initiative.“I just want to give because there are so many people who are afraid to ask for the things they need,” Chatman said. So far her initiative has helped to get nearly 60 people vaccinated and raised over $30,000 in donations.