Helix Community Church and Helix Parks and Recreation joined forces to propel Helix’s vaccination rate (at least one dose) to over 60 percent, making it the highest vaccinated zip code in Umatilla County.
The two local organizations will share at least $10,000 in incentive money for their vaccination efforts as part of the Community Rewards Program launched earlier this summer by Umatilla County Health (UCo Health). The Community Rewards Program offers incentives to local nonprofits and agencies that help the county’s 13 zip codes meet the 60-percent milestone.
Helix Community Church and Helix Parks and Recreation promoted vaccination messaging in Helix’s 97835 zip code and hosted a pool party on July 24 at the Helix Park and Pool that featured live music and free vaccinations which helped the area surpass 60 percent.
The two organizations will split a minimum of $10,000 as a reward for helping to reach the milestone. The Community Rewards Program was launched in June with the aim of increasing the COVID-19 vaccination rate of every zip code in Umatilla County to 60 percent (at least one dose) by Sept. 1, 2021.
Elsewhere in the county, Hermiston and Pendleton have the second-highest vaccination rates in the county at 56 percent each, followed by Meacham at 54 percent and Ukiah at 50 percent.
(SEE ALSO: LATEST CASE COUNT IN UMATILLA COUNTY)
As of July 30, the cities with the lowest vaccination rates are Milton-Freewater at 30 percent, Adams at 31 percent, followed by Stanfield at 34 percent, Weston at 35 percent and Umatilla at 37 percent.
The county’s overall vaccination rate is 52 percent.
Previous incentive plans, such as the “Take Your Shot Oregon,” focused on motivating the individual. UCo Health believed that community-level incentives can have a broader impact overall.
“The decision to vaccinate or not is an individual’s choice,” said UCo Health Director Joseph Fiumara. “However, the impact of that choice has community-wide implications.”
Current vaccination rates for all 13 zip codes in Umatilla County are available on the UCo Health website and are updated every Thursday. Currently, 15 local organizations signed up for the rewards program, and all participating organizations that help individual zip codes meet or pass the 60-percent threshold for at least one vaccination will share in the federally-funded incentive dollars.
For more information about the Community Rewards Program or vaccination information in your area, please visit our website at ucohealth.net or contact UCo Health at 541-278-5432 or via email at health@umatillacounty.net.
