PARMA, Ohio — Both state and local officials continue to ramp up efforts to get the COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as possible.

And now some places of worship in Northeast Ohio are also helping out.

The Cleveland Ibn Sina clinic held its first COVID-19 vaccination event Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The free health clinic opened at the Islamic Center of Cleveland in Parma two years ago with the goal of providing free healthcare to those who can’t afford it.

Sticking true to their mission of helping communities in need, Saturday’s vaccination event was targeted at Muslim communities and the refugee population.

Leaders at the clinic said they also wanted to highlight misinformation about the vaccine and address any skepticism about its effectiveness and safety.

They believe that hosting the clinic at the ICC will help put some people at ease because of its proximity and importance to the community and the trust many place in religious leaders.

“If these organizations take the lead step to get the word out, to reach the people who find it difficult to either register themselves or find it difficult to maneuver the maze of the different steps that may be required to get you and your entire family to this process, then I think we have done our job,” Yousuf Ali, a Cleveland Clinic doctor volunteering at the clinic, said.

The clinic is hosting another vaccination event next Saturday, April 3 offering the Moderna vaccine to everyone 18 and older.

Registration is required. To learn more click here.

Living Waters Apostolic Church of Parma is also helping out with the vaccination effort.

“Instead of just being a building, we wanted to be part of the community and be part of the solution,” said organizer Sheila Staab, whose husband is the church’s pastor.

This week, their mission was put into action as the church transformed into an official registration site for the mass vaccination clinic at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

Volunteers from the church along with some reps from FEMA helped people schedule appointments face to face.

“We have a lot of seniors that live out here and they're tired of getting on the phone. They're tired of being hung up on and things like that,” Staab said.

Staab said so far it's been a success, with people eager to get vaccinated.

“Oh, I get calls all hours of the night, believe me!” Staab said.

Volunteers will be registering people at the church next week between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Staab said people interested in registering can also call the church at 440-558-2108 if they can’t make it in person.

Jade Jarvis is a reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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