After two years without in-person services, residents of Bakersfield, CA were thrilled to have Tzu Chi’s medical team visit their community. Many patients came to the free clinic in dire need of medical attention as on-site care had been halted due to the pandemic. The event was heavily trafficked, furthering the team’s mission to host more free clinics in the near future.

As of October 29, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 through 11, offering millions of children and families a way to help protect themselves against the spread of COVID-19 — while also supporting communities, and paving the way toward regaining a greater sense of normalcy. With this, Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (TCMF) immediately began contacting school districts in Southern California. Soon, Mountain View School District in El Monte, CA, joined Valle Lindo School District in South El Monte, CA, in administering the vaccine to parents and students at the Valle Lindo School District Office and Madrid Middle School. The community vaccination event took place on November 19 and November 20, and a total of 334 doses were given.