SOS Awarded Community Outreach Immunization Champion Award, Honorable Mention from the American Pharmacists Association

Share Our Selves Free Medical Clinic received the 2009-2010 Community Outreach Immunization Award, Honorable Mention, from the American Pharmacists Association. The award was given in recognition of Share Our Selves’ extraordinary contributions toward improving the community’s vaccination rates. Mary Ann Huntsman, Pharm D, SOS Director of Pharmacy, accepted the award on March 14, 2010 at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington DC. “The APhA Immunization Champion Award was a wonderful validation of the work done at Share Our Selves to improve the health of our community,” stated Dr. Huntsman.

Since October 2009, SOS has vaccinated over 2,500 individuals in Orange County for seasonal flu and H1N1. Made possible by vaccine donations from Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, The County of Orange, and other various stakeholders, the SOS Free Medical Clinic targeted their patients with chronic diagnoses (asthma, diabetes, weakened immune system, heart disease, etc.), medical workers, and those living in poverty in our community. The SOS Pharmacy team focused on outreach by distributing posters, making announcements, counseling and educating individuals about the risks and benefits of vaccination, sending emails to providers and other key individuals who provide economic and social services to the targeted population.

SHARE OUR SELVES is one of the largest, most comprehensive, voluntary support agencies providing for the needs of those living in poverty in Orange County. All services are free and include: medical and dental care, counseling, case management, food, clothing, financial assistance, legal aid, and special holiday programs. Founded in 1970, SOS serves the “working poor” – families that work fulltime, typically have two incomes, and still barely make living expenses. They keep the economy moving and growing, and occasionally – they need our help. SOS provides the bridge sometimes needed to remain self-sufficient.