On top of computer and phone difficulties that some people over 75 have faced trying to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments, there are seniors who may want the vaccine but are homebound or don't have transportation to get to a clinic.
In southeastern Connecticut, there are multiple options to bring people to a vaccine clinic, but options to bring the vaccine to people — through mobile clinics — are still being worked out.
Michael Wolak, manager of the Rose City Senior Center in Norwich, said he feels that the issue of vaccinating homebound people is a big deal but he hasn't gotten a clear answer yet on how to do this.
"One might ask why a homebound person might need the vaccine but I do understand it is just as important for them due to the fact they have visitors, home health aides or other interaction with people," he wrote in a recent email.
As far as transportation, he said the senior center is treating vaccine clinics like any other appointment and can provide rides if possible.
Wolak said people need to be members to get transportation but that's a simple process, and those interested can call the senior center at (860) 889-5960. As safety precautions, he said the senior center requires the driver and passenger to wear masks, sanitizes between riders, only allows one rider at a time unless riders are from the same household and prescreens riders for symptoms the day before.
East Lyme Senior Center Director Cathy Wilson described similar measures, adding that the driver's temperature is taken every day and the passenger's temperature is taken as they get on the bus.
People can call the senior center at (860) 739-5859 for information about getting a ride or assistance booking an appointment, but because the senior center only allows one person on the vehicle at a time, scheduling is complex. Wilson said the senior center also has to work within its schedule of Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wilson said the vehicle wouldn't take people to New Haven or Hartford but could take people to New London or Old Saybrook. She also has offered the community center as a clinic location in the future.
Mary Jo Riley, supervisor of the Groton Senior Center, (860) 441-6785, said staff members have helped seniors with rides from family or seniors who still drive. She said most people who have reached out with questions have been able to get to their appointment.
Teresa Pensis, senior center coordinator in North Stonington, said she hasn't had anyone call saying they don't have a ride, but the senior center would help if someone needed it. The facility's number is (860) 535-8188.
In Waterford, those who need scheduling help or have questions can call senior services at (860) 444-5839. The New London Senior Center, (860) 437 6339, and Ledyard Senior Center, (860) 464 0471, also offer transportation services.
Transportation options beyond senior centers
Another option is the Eastern Connecticut Transportation Consortium, which serves people who are over age 60 or disabled in Bozrah, East Lyme, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Lisbon, New London, North Stonington, Preston, Salem, Stonington and Waterford. Its programs include Medical Dial-a-Ride and ADA Paratransit.
ECTC Executive Director John Roode said those who are signed up can call (860) 848-5910 and press 2 to schedule a ride, and those who aren't signed up will be referred to a senior center to do so. Once signed up, Roode said trips are available any time of day, but scheduling must be done between two weeks and 48 hours ahead of time.
Any HUSKY A, C, D and limited benefit members who are eligible for nonemergency medical transportation can call Veyo at (855) 478-7350 — at least 48 business hours in advance — to arrange for transportation to and from vaccine appointments at any time. The service is free for such members.
The Estuary Transit District is providing free rides seven days a week to and from COVID-19 vaccination sites within the district. The service is eligible to people in multiple towns, including Old Lyme and Lyme.
People can schedule by calling taxi provider Curtin Transportation at (860) 443-1655 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to make a reservation at least one day in advance. A wheelchair-accessible vehicle will be provided upon request.
In Vernon, town officials have contracted with Uber Health to provide rides. Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said the town will provide the service judiciously because of the cost and the service is only for people with no other options for a ride, The Journal Inquirer reported.
Mobile clinics still being worked out
Cara Westcott, chief operating officer of UCFS Healthcare, said UCFS hasn't run into transportation issues much yet but expects this will be a bigger ask as the vaccine opens up to the broader population.
She also indicated that one hurdle with mobile clinics is that compared to COVID-19 testing, there is more that goes into transporting the vaccine, considering a vial of doses can only be open for a limited time.
Similarly, Uncas Health District Director Patrick McCormack said, "We always remember the vaccine is very fragile, and typically they want you to only transport it once."
At this point, neither Uncas Health District nor Ledge Light Health District is offering mobile vaccine clinics; Uncas is vaccinating at the Rose City Senior Center and Ledge Light at the City of Groton Municipal Building, though Ledge Light plans to vaccinate at sites in New London and North Stonington this week.
Hartford HealthCare is working with its home care division to administer vaccines to those who are homebound, said Dr. Jim Cardon, chief clinical integration officer.
"We already had run mobile clinics and will continue to expand them as we have access to do so, and we are working closely with community leaders, municipalities, to continue to figure out the transportation issues," Cardon said Thursday.
He said mobile clinics so far have all been at congregate living sites, and that Hartford HealthCare doesn't currently have the vaccine supply to open mobile clinics up to communities, "but that will be forthcoming."
Hartford HealthCare vaccinated 136 residents at The Open Hearth emergency shelter in Hartford on Jan. 22, which company officials said would be the first of many mobile clinics.
Community Health Center spokesperson Leslie Gianelli said CHC is starting to do mobile clinics in congregate settings with people who are eligible in Phase 1a or 1b.
Fiona Phelan, spokesperson for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Westerly Hospital, said in an email that Yale New Haven Health "is working in partnership with the state to design a strategy and implementation plan to address difficult to reach populations, such as homebound patients, patients living in congregate locations as well as underserved communities that may have difficulty accessing sites that require travel, technology or otherwise."
Phelan said the roving clinic model for homebound, congregate and community needs is in development and piloting, and the state will need to agree on any long-term form.
Other parts of the state start seeing mobile clinics
As part of a collaboration between the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District and the West Hartford Fire Department, West Hartford will begin mobile vaccinations for eligible homebound residents on Wednesday, We-Ha.com reported.
Assistant Fire Chief Hugh O'Callaghan said at least 10 individuals are scheduled for the service on the first day, and the program — called ARCH, for At-Risk Community Health — will provide the service to residents every Wednesday as long as the need exists.
We-Ha noted that 10 fire department employees already have gone through the training but, per state regulations, each paramedic must be accompanied by a nurse or doctor. The paramedic and nurse will remain with the recipient for 15-30 minutes to ensure there are no adverse reactions.
In Waterbury, mobile pop-up clinics will begin in senior buildings downtown this week.
On WNPR's Where We Live on Wednesday morning, Gov. Ned Lamont said the state will send mobile vans to underserved communities.
"We're going to those underserved communities, often people of color," he said. "Going to churches. Going to elderly housing. Going to congregate settings. Going to prisons."
The Journal Inquirer reported that a mobile clinic has so far visited St. Bernard Church and Rose Commons apartments in Vernon, and the Al-Noor Islamic Center in Ellington.
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