Help in the Home: A Nurse Practitioner on Leading a Vaccine Initiative

By Gabi Nintunze and Tammie Michael, AGPCNP-BC

In January, the University of Texas Medical Branch received a surprising message — a local vaccine hub had 90 leftover COVID-19 vaccine doses available, but they had to be used in three days. Texas Nurses Association member Tammie Michael, AGPCNP-BC, doubted it was feasible, but Jennifer Young, AGPCNP-BC, was more optimistic. Both nurse practitioners work in UTMB’s geriatric house call program, and they had patients who could not leave their homes to make it out to vaccine locations. Quickly, they got to work on creating a plan to bring the vaccine to them.

Young, whom Michael credits with leading the endeavor, mapped out the best way to reach all of their patients. Armed with emergency kits and vaccines, nurse practitioners and doctors split into three teams of two and spent three days in a row visiting their patients. At the end of those three days, they had finished every dose.

After a successful first round, UTMB asked their team if they would like to do more. Over the next few months, word travelled and so did they — even in February, when ice and snow took over Texas.

“We still went out that Wednesday towards the end of the freeze,” Michael said. “People were still without electricity, and we took them coffee and gave them the second dose of the vaccine.” They brought along snacks, blankets and other items donated by the community once word spread about their initiative – even donuts from local shops.

“It was a little overwhelming for a while,” Michael said, even as it became a community affair. Home health companies worked with them to get information out to people in Galveston County who might be interested; news outlets reached out to feature their work on local news in print and on television. This led to more support, and more calls from people who wanted the vaccine but could not leave their homes.

“These are the most vulnerable of the vulnerable,” Michael said, particularly about UTMB’s geriatric home patients who were already isolated before seeing friends and family became a danger to them as well. “We were just trying to get out there and get all of our patients vaccinated so we could hopefully, in the days to come this year, get back to normalcy of some type.” She noted the joy of being able to see their patients reunited with family. “This was all done so that we could try and get some normalcy back to our patients.”

Those reunions and the news coverage may have inspired even more people to reach out to UTMB. Patients who were initially nervous due to misinformation or vaccine reluctance changed their minds after the first wave of visits. Michael said, “They just didn’t want to be the first. We were able to let them know — hey, we’ve had patients around a hundred years old who took it, and they’re fine. They didn’t grow tails!”

By the end of April, their vaccine initiative had delivered over 300 doses, first and second, to a residents across Galveston County. Now, their patients are happier – seeing their families with less worry and staying COVID-free.

After several months of work, the initiative passed into the hands of Galveston County, and now the Galveston County Health District manages outreach requests directly. Hundreds of doses after their first ninety, a nurse practitioner-created local initiative made a significant change in the lives and health of their county.

“We’re out there fighting for these guys and would want them to know that we’re in their corner,” Michael said of the work that nurse practitioners did in setting up and continuing this effort. Their success is especially important to note in light of the outcome of the latest legislative session and the strike down of a bill meant to expand APRNs abilities and capacity to practice.

Now Michael, Young and the population health students at UTMB are working on basic life support awareness and hurricane preparedness in senior living facilities. “We love what we’re doing. We’re constantly trying to be innovative in helping our seniors.”

With Texas heading back towards normalcy as the population nears 40% fully vaccinated, nurses and nurse practitioners continue leading the charge towards a safer, healthier Texas.

If you or someone you know needs more information about Galveston County Health District's outreach program or a vaccine home visit, contact Reta Melby at rmelby@gchd.org, or by phone at (409) 938-2389.