The state will host a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon this weekend. The three-day event, which is by appointment
Lisa Beaudoin, who advocates on behalf of families within New Hampshire’s disability community as executive director of ABLE New Hampshire, says that part of the process has been a major hurdle.
“The lack of clarity and consistency in vaccine guidance, by what ostensibly becomes the gatekeepers of the vaccine, is leaving behind our most vulnerable members of the disability community,” Beaudoin told NHPR’s The Exchange during a Tuesday conversation about vaccine equity. “And that’s been very problematic.”
She said some families have struggled to navigate the bureaucratic authorization process and, at times, struggled to get their providers to agree to attest to their eligibility.
Credit Casey McDermott for NHPR
Public health workers and others around New Hampshire are working to improve access to vaccines for groups that can face additional barriers, including low-income households, those without transportation, the homebound, and immigrant and refugee populations. We explore what has been working, including mobile-health clinics and more community outreach workers, and where more help is needed.
Air date: March 2, 2021
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Dan Tuohy / NHPR
As we begin the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire, scientists continue to learn more about the virus, and the race to vaccinate people as quickly as possible continues. We talk Monday about the new mask recommendations from the CDC, vaccine development and efficacy, and how to safely transition to in-person learning, work, and life.
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Casey McDermott, NHPR
Inside one of Nashua’s community COVID-19 vaccine clinics, before patients arrive, nurses, public health workers and first responders are suiting up in scrubs and protective masks, sorting through paperwork and assembling supplies to administer the shots.
“I ve been making masks at home for a year, just waiting for an opportunity to put my hand in and help,” said Dr. Ophelia Chang, one of several retired physicians volunteering at the latest clinic. “And this is the first time I felt like there s something I can really do to help save lives.”
There’s also a team of interpreters standing by, ready to help immigrants, refugees and other non-English speakers through the process in Spanish, French, Swahili and Portuguese. Ira Munoz, who works for the city’s welfare department and provides Spanish language support at these clinics, said this kind of service is essential to help people feel more comfortable and to clear up any misinformation aroun