Worcesteria: For many, COVID vaccine still proving elusive

Worcester Magazine
IN DEMAND: As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine escalates, we're still hearing stories of people who by all means definitely should be getting vaccinated early having troubles. One story that stuck out came to us from Worcester disability activist Deb Ellstrom, who wrote to tell of her travails trying to get her 87-year-old mother vaccinated at Gillette Stadium. Writes Ellstrom, “What an eye-opener. You can't past the first few screens. Mandatory field for email address? How many 80-and-older people do you know who use email? I entered my e-address, just to move the process along. Then there were the mandatory insurance screens … primary insurance; secondary insurance; other insurance … with all the numbers and member info, including coding numbers. Isn't this vaccine to be distributed free, and without administrative costs? Then: why all this detailed insurance that's only used for billing? Something's up here, and it leaves a foul flavor behind. I called my mom back, and told her to call her PCP (primary care provider) and the local Visiting Nurse; at least I know he and she won't charge my mom for the vaccine, and they won't bill her for any other services she didn't receive.” What's frustrating here is that this is not an abnormal story. For many people, it's been the norm. Ellstrom continues, “she was hospitalized for a non-COVID-related problem two weeks ago. I pleaded with her hospital doctor to get her vaccinated before discharge; he told her the hospital had no COVID vaccine. She was discharged with a referral to Dana Farber, because her bloodwork indicated possible recurrence of cancer. She's at high risk for all kinds of possible complications, but we can't seem to get her vaccinated against COVID.”

Related Keywords

Florida , United States , Fort Lauderdale , Victord Infante Worcester , Dana Farber , Orlando Baxter , Deb Ellstrom , Walter Sickert , Army Of Broken Toys , High Community School , Writes Ellstrom , Visiting Nurse , South High Community School , Unity Radio , New England , Curtis Mayflower , Death Over Simplicity , Broken Toys , புளோரிடா , ஒன்றுபட்டது மாநிலங்களில் , கோட்டை லாடர்டேல் , டானா ஃபார்‌பர் , ஆர்ல்யாஂடொ பாக்ஸ்டர் , இராணுவம் ஆஃப் உடைந்த பொம்மைகள் , உயர் சமூக பள்ளி , வருகை செவிலியர் , தெற்கு உயர் சமூக பள்ளி , ஒற்றுமை வானொலி , புதியது இங்கிலாந்து , கர்டிஸ் மேஃப்ளவர் , இறப்பு ஓவர் எளிமை , உடைந்த பொம்மைகள் ,