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Uber teams up with Morehouse to offer 10 million free rides to people seeking vaccinations

By WSBTV.com News Staff

Uber

By WSBTV.com News Staff

ATLANTA — Uber has teamed up with Atlanta’s Morehouse School of Medicine to provide 10 million free or discounted rides to help people get COVID-19 vaccines.

The company announced the new initiative Thursday. The ride-share app is also working with the National Action Network and the National Urban league to make sure that transportation is not a barrier for communities of color, which have been disproportionately affected by the virus.

[SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Pandemic in Georgia]

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It’s the second time the company has offered 10 million free rides during the pandemic. In March, Uber gave away free rides and food deliveries to healthcare workers, seniors and others who needed transportation.

“Not only will we need to deliver vaccines quickly and efficiently, we will need to boost public confidence in vaccine safety and ensure that all people have easy access to the, vaccine,” the company said. “In the months ahead, alongside our community partners, we’ll work to ensure that those most in need can get to and from a vaccination appointment—and back again for their second and final dose.”

Daniel E. Dawes, the executive director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine said the priority is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“Access to care has long been one of the most pernicious of the social determinants of health and this pandemic has only exacerbated that problem,” Satcher said. “This is why we are so elated to be joining forces with Uber to work together to create equitable access to the vaccine for so many of our hardest hit communities.”

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