by Julianne Stahl
In July, LifePoint Health, a CSG Associate, partnered with the Tennessee Department of Health to host two COVID-19 vaccination clinics for Special Olympics Tennessee. The vaccination clinics were open to all participating athletes, their family members, spectators and the general public. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) supplied the vaccines, and the clinical staff from both TDH and LifePoint Health administered them.
“We are so honored to partner with organizations like TDH and LifePoint Health that continuously strive to make Tennessee safer and healthier, and increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines is an important part of that work,” said Aisha Eiger, Special Olympics Tennessee health manager. “Our three organizations share a commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities and supporting their full and equitable inclusion in the community, as well as doing everything we can to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Special Olympics Tennessee serves more than 18,000 athletes and hosts more than 250 events in 17 sports annually. Special Olympics Tennessee provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
LifePoint Health and Special Olympics Tennessee have an existing partnership that was established in 2020, and LifePoint is a sponsor of the 2021 Middle Tennessee Regional Summer Games. The organizations’ partnership aims to help expand access to care for thousands of athletes and help them reach their health and wellness goals.
“Community partnerships like this are essential for expanding access to vaccines, reaching underserved populations and ultimately bringing the COVID-19 pandemic to an end,” said Ken Gagnon, vice president of pharmacy services for LifePoint Health. “Vaccinating as many people as possible is a team effort, and it is exciting to see our mission of Making Communities Healthier being brought to life in this very meaningful way.”
To learn more about LifePoint Health and its continued dedication to its communities, visit www.LifePointHealth.net.