COVID Vaccinations - for homebound persons with disabilities

It seems counter-intuitive that our loved ones and colleagues who have been homebound due to their disabilities and the government enforced lock downs have not been considered in the vaccination roll out. In New York, where scheduling for vaccinations is driven by the internet, those who cannot use the internet - mostly those who are frail and qualify for the first round of vaccinations - cannot navigate the internet to obtain an appointment.

Tips - if a family member lives in a different time zone, and they are adept at the internet, ask them to make an appointment for you. As more and more locations become available, employing competitive strategies to score an appointment is key.

Some state sites offer information on accommodating persons with disabilities - use them - for example, find out where the handicapped parking is before you leave. If you are in a cold climate, inquire where the person being vaccinated waits, indoors or outdoors before you arrive and ask for the appropriate accommodation.

If accommodation information is not readily available, ask a loved one to make a trip to the site, to inquire about accommodations. Volunteers from Americorps and the military working at the sites which are surprisingly organized will have the best information about accommodations.

Good luck and spread the word!