WITH MOST OF THE FOCUS on state, city and governments tackling the coronavirus pandemic, a remarkable network of doctors has been on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19 in New York City since the very start. These physicians, who are the backbone of SOMOS Community Care, have not drawn the limelight but have quietly done their job fighting the ravages of the pandemic.
SOMOS has proven its effectiveness and earned its stripes. No doubt, its record in the battle against the coronavirus—showing that primary care physicians can play a key role—helped persuade New York State health authorities to give SOMOS doctors the privileged task of administering the vaccine.
This network of more than 2,500 community-based, independent physicians—most of them primary care providers—are caring for vulnerable African American, Hispanic and Chinese American Medicaid patients throughout the city. The populations have been particularly vulnerable to the virus, because of a high incidence of underlying conditions, cramped living conditions among other factors. These neediest patients have been the focus of SOMOS Community Care from the very start.
Months ago, when it came to encouraging people to get tested for the virus, SOMOS doctors’ close relationships with their patients—in whose lives they play the role of the family doctor of old—made all the difference. Plus, there is the fact that in many cases the physicians speak the same language and share the same cultural background as they people in their care.
These advantages also come into play now that these doctors have begun administering the vaccine. SOMOS doctors can establish patients’ trust and confidence about the safety of the vaccine and ensure the equitable distribution of the vaccine in communities of color.
The work of SOMOS’ fight against the virus began right when the pandemic first hit the US, in March 2020. At the request of Governor Andrew Cuomo, SOMOS doctors and staff began testing personnel at the New York Stock Exchange, a vital institution in the life of the US economy. The testing there began in mid-March and continued through the summer and fall of last year.
The organization has been operating more than 51 tri-lingual testing sites, with service in Spanish, English, and Chinese, based at Catholic and Protestant churches throughout New York City, while SOMOS is also testing at 33 office sites and two drive-thru locations. SOMOS, to-date, has administered more than 500,000 coronavirus tests. The count at SOMOS-run sites in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Georgia bring the total up to 1 million. SOMOS has also been testing at more than 400 public schools in the city. Some 400 SOMOS practices—half of the total—play a part in the testing process.
At the same time, SOMOS partnered with restaurants and entrepreneurs in some of the communities it serves to provide meals to families hard-hit by the economic fall-out from the pandemic, families whose breadwinners lost their jobs and were plunged into poverty. To-date, more than 5M prepared meals have been distributed. SOMOS also worked with local grocers and other community-based organizations to purchase, package, and distribute food products. SOMOS also helped struggling small businesses in minority communities get back on their feet financially.
SOMOS has also finance the purchase and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE) and consumable medical supplies necessary for COVID-19 testing; medical waste disposal related to COVID-19 testing; labor costs associated with medical staff providing COVID-19 testing; and additional costs for testing sites, including costs related to lease, mobilization, and demobilization costs, as well as certain operating and maintenance costs.
All the while SOMOS engaged in significant outreach and communications efforts to disseminate public information regarding health and safety measures and provide warnings about risks and hazards. This communication effort encompassed all forms of media, including radio, newspaper, pamphlets, and television. This work continues now in service of the vaccination process.
With hundreds of doctors now vaccinated, SOMOS doctors feel confident that they can immunize their entire patient body—at least those over 65—in the coming weeks. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this year that SOMOS doctors will be vaccinating first responders at Taft High School in the Bronx, George Wingate High School in Brooklyn, and Brandeis High School in Manhattan. SOMOS doctors is also administering the vaccine at Yankee Stadium and the Aqueduct Racetrack.
SOMOS’s participation in the vaccination process will balance hospital-based distribution and make getting the vaccine more convenient for many New Yorkers. The SOMOS doctors were engaged thanks to the lobbying efforts of SOMOS President Dr. Henry Chen and SOMOS Founder and Chairman Dr. Ramon Tallaj, who is an advisor for the execution of New York State’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program.
All of SOMOS’ activities dealing with the pandemic are closely coordinated with the New York State Department of Health and the City of New York. To help both the testing and vaccination process, SOMOS has stablished two urgent care centers: one in the Bronx and one in Manhattan.
SOMOS has been on the frontlines from the start and paid in treasure (some $20M) and blood—a dozen SOMOS doctors died from the virus and many fell ill doing their jobs. Meanwhile, more than half of SOMOS practices remain closed.
The fight will continue until the virus is defeated—and SOMOS will not quit.
Mario J. Paredes is the CEO of SOMOS Community Care.
