The Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition (OPHCC), a nonprofit organization in Clallam County with more than 50 partners, recently awarded Clallam County Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry with a Community Champion Award for her work to protect the community in the fight against COVID-19.

OPHCC board director Patty Lebowitz presented the award to Berry during a virtual OPHCC meeting. Lebowitz thanked Berry for her “inspiring leadership, compassion for our community and discipline to follow the science,” the organization announced last week.

“Dr. Berry, your job is one that nobody but you really understands but that everybody has a strong opinion about,” said Mark Ozias, Clallam County Commissioner and coalition president. “While this dynamic makes your work even more difficult, you have led our community with grace and professionalism and have earned the respect of your law enforcement and first responder partners, the emergency management team, health care providers and everyday citizens as you have shepherded the county through this challenging pandemic.”

Berry told coalition members, “From the first vaccines received in the county, the goal was to distribute them quickly and equitably. Clallam County’s vaccination rate shot ahead of other counties in the state due in large part to strong partnerships with the tribes and community organizations, but we still have more work to do to get our vaccination rate closer to 70 percent.”

COVID-19 vaccines are free and available; visit clallam.net/coronavirus or call 360-417-2430 for locations and information.

Learn more about the Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition at healthyOP.org.