SAN DIEGO — Medical workers from all over San Diego made their way into SDCCU Stadium Wednesday to pick up free Personal Protective Equipment for their small and medium sized practices.
The workers got free hand sanitizer, N95 masks, surgical masks, gloves and gowns.
"It's really hard to find in stores, online, it's all out, everywhere," said Juana Vasquez, medical assistant at La Mesa Family Medical Groups, who was picking up supplies.
Volunteers from the San Diego County Medical Society, UCSD Medical School and the Mira Mesa High School football team handed drivers boxes of the gear in the stadium's parking lot. Medical organizations of 50 or fewer are eligible, and more than 500 of them registered for the event.
Dr. Holly Yang, a hospice and palliative care specialist at Scripps and president of the San Diego County Medical Society, said larger hospital systems have been able to source the necessary PPE for its staff. For smaller operations, however, it has been a challenge.
"Everyone wants to take care of patients," Yang said. "We should not in this country have to be afraid for ourselves and our families. We should have the right equipment. It’s completely inexcusable that this far into the pandemic that that is not available and I’m so grateful that we are able to do this for our small practices."
The items came available due to Gov. Newsom's $1 billion PPE purchase earlier in the pandemic.
The pickups are happening Wednesday and Thursday. Pre-registration is required. Email ppe@cmadocs.org for more information.