Kaweah Health partners with Olympic silver medalist to get Tulare County vaccinated

Kaweah Health partners with Olympic silver medalist to get Tulare County vaccinated

Free vaccine clinic set for Oct. 23 in Tulare

VISALIA – Kaweah Health and Olympic Silver Medalist Richard “Kiki” Torrez Jr. are teaming up to urge Tulare County residents to fight back against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated at a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Tulare.

Those interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine can make an appointment at kaweahhealth.org/Tulare and come early for photos and autographs with Torrez. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaweah Health Tulare Clinic, 1000 N. Mooney Blvd., Tulare. Masks will be required.

“We are thrilled to work with our hometown hero to be able to help encourage vaccination,” said Ryan Gates, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist and Kaweah Health’s Vice President of Population Health Management. “Over 3 billion people across the world have received the COVID vaccine and every day the data on its safety and efficacy just keeps pouring in. We’re seeing that it’s working and it’s safe.”

Torrez, who is vaccinated, encourages others to get vaccinated, too. “It is my sincere hope that my friends, family, and supporters get vaccinated and follow best practices to stay healthy during this pandemic,” Torrez said. “I am partnering with Kaweah Health to help spread awareness about the benefits of vaccinations so our community does not get knocked out by Covid. Inside of a ring or out, the fight continues on. Let’s fight back.”

More than a year and a half into the pandemic, only 44.51 percent of Tulare County residents are fully vaccinated. Kaweah Health continues to urge COVID-19 vaccinations, which first became available in United States on Dec. 11, 2020.

“How are we going to overcome COVID? The same way we have overcome every other major infectious disease in modern history like polio, smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, etc., with a vaccine,” Gates said. “We will overcome this, but we can’t do it without the community’s help.”

To schedule a vaccine, visit kaweahhealth.org/Tulare or myturn.ca.gov.