Cover Story

A shot of COVER STORY hopeSeniors find comfort amid vaccine confusion make vaccine appointments be- some counties have set up easy cause of insufficient computer online registration forms that will skills—if they even have online notify people via text, phone call or By Alan M. Schlein access at all. email when a vaccine is available. Since the pandemic began a year ago, every aspect of American Newly analyzed data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging finds Health departments are trying to hire more staff to handle vaccilife has suffered. Older folks are that nearly half (45 percent) of nation hotlines and are specifically worried about sudden illness and individuals between the ages of 65 targeting seniors with help in the death. Even family gatherings and and 80 said they had not set up an online sign-up process. But this trips to the pharmacy or grocery account with their health provider’s costs money, and states are eagerly store are no longer routine. online portal system. waiting for those dollars, which

Seniors in particular are strug- And it’s not just seniors—42 hopefully will come with the next gling to figure out what’s going on. percent of adults between the ages stimulus package. Sorting through the onslaught of of 50 and 80 hadn’t either. overwhelming coronavirus cov- obtain the lifesaving vaccine feel This digital divide can have life THE NATION’S RESPONSE erage and constantly changing more like trying to win the lottery and death implications. Luckily, With the nation moving toward information is challenging, especial- or score tickets to a concert. Even many seniors have family members 500,000 deaths, the struggle to ly when trying to decide what really for seniors who are eligible to get or caregivers to assist them in keep up with the demand for the matters. the vaccine—those age 70 and old- searching for online information. new coronavirus vaccine continues, er in many Colorado counties—ar- But a growing number of older and likely will well into summer. AdTHE DIGITAL DIVIDE ranging to get the vaccine is often a Americans are on their own. ditionally, health care professionals Glitchy websites, misinformation, greater ordeal than actually getting Many states’ websites are a are navigating supply shortages and jammed phone lines and long lines the shot. nightmare to navigate to find the struggling to find qualified personoutside of clinics make trying to Some seniors are unable to needed information. However, nel to administer the vaccine.

Does it hurt?

Seniors share their COVID-19 vaccination experiences

Ken Siefken, 72

“The shot is less painful than the flu shot. It’s hardly noticeable. A lot of people have gotten the first and second shots by now. The effects have been pretty consistent.” Jane Siefken, 71

“This was our second shot. After the first, we had a sore arm for a day—that’s it.”

Reason for getting it

“We want to get back to normal.” Judy & Gary Edmonds, 77 & 80

“We registered online and got a response within a week. It took a bit of trial and error, but it worked.”

Reason for getting it

“We wouldn’t have thought not to! We don’t think we have anything to lose.”

Carol Steele, Delta County resident and cancer survivor, prepares to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Delta County Memorial Hospital’s vaccination clinic. Courtesy photo.

MULTIPLE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING SENIORS WITH HELP IN THE ONLINE SIGN-UP PROCESS

The Biden administration is establishing national rules and a distribution system for vaccines that will give states adequate supplies to plan a few weeks ahead for distribution. It also recently worked out agreements with major pharmacy chains to begin distributing shots, since most Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy.

The federal government is also hoping to start up community vaccination clinics in spaces such as local gyms and sports stadiums. Aiming to surpass Biden’s target of administering 100 million shots in his first 100 days as president, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently approved a request from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deploy 10,000 troops to support vaccination sites.

To ramp up that number, the Biden administration is moving to allow doctors and nurses who recently retired or are inactive to administer vaccinations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to change the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act to ensure these health care workers can administer shots and to permit anyone licensed to vaccinate in their state to administer a shot across state lines.

AT-HOME TESTING

In recent weeks, the Food and Drug Administration began approving over-the-counter coronavirus tests for Americans to use at home. This is part of a wave of new options that could play a role in catching infections that might otherwise go undetected. The administration said it expects 61 million such tests to be available by the summer from six different companies.

Home testing efforts run by state health departments in Minnesota, Ohio, New Mexico, Wisconsin, West Virginia and New Jersey have had some modest success.

The federal government recently purchased 8.5 million over-thecounter home test kits, made by the Australian company, Ellume. Test users can swab themselves at home and check their results in about 20 minutes. It’s one of only three consumer self-use tests on the market and the only one available without a doctor’s prescription. But the company still has to build a plant in the U.S. to make enough of the swabs, which will take time. ■ Appointment scheduling is based on Colorado’s phased distribution guidelines. Please note these providers may or may not have vaccines currently available. These locations are not open for walk-in appointments and should be contacted directly for additional information.

MESA COUNTY

• Mesa County Public Health 248-6900 health.mesacounty.us/covid19/ vaccine

Fill out the Vaccine Interest Form and receive an email once a vaccine becomes available. This information also applies to vaccines administered by St. Mary’s

Hospital and Colorado Canyons

Hospital. • Safeway Pharmacy www.mhealthappointments.com/ covidappt

Redlands: 257-0233 29 Road & Patterson: 248-9871

Horizon Drive: 257-1392 • City Market Pharmacy www.citymarket.com/rx/guest/ get-vaccinated

Orchard Mesa: 245-1215

Fruita: 858-9508

Clifton: 434-9651 12th & Patterson: 628-7563 • Primary Care Partners: 245-1220 www.pcpgj.com

Fill out the Vaccine Interest Form under the COVID 19 tab. • Community Hospital: 644-4015 www.yourcommunityhospital. com

Call to schedule a vaccine, or visit the website. Please note that the voicemail will not be activated or checked until vaccines become available. • Walmart (North Avenue): 241-6652 www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine

MONTROSE COUNTY

• Montrose County Public Health: 252-4545 westreg.readyop.com/ fs/4cEp/410e

Fill out the Vaccine Interest Form and receive an email once a vaccine becomes available. • Safeway Pharmacy: 249-1160 www.mhealthappointments.com/ covidappt • City Market Pharmacy www.citymarket.com/rx/guest/ get-vaccinated 128 S. Townsend: 249-2064 16400 S. Townsend: 240-1994

DELTA COUNTY

• Delta County Health Department: 874-2165 www.deltacounty.com/688/

Coronavirus-19-COVID-19

Fill out the Vaccine Interest

Form to get on the waitlist for the vaccine. The waitlist will be available to vaccine providers in

Delta County who will contact you to schedule an appointment.

This information also applies to vaccines administered by Delta

County Memorial Hospital. • Safeway Pharmacy: 874-9091 www.mhealthappointments.com/ covidappt • City Market Pharmacy www.citymarket.com/rx/guest/ get-vaccinated

Delta: 874-5771

Hotchkiss: 872-2623

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Transportation update All Points Transit offers no fares for trips to prescheduled vaccine appointments. Call 249-0128 in Montrose and 874-7334 in Delta.

Some senior living communities are offering free transportation to vaccination sites for some residents.

Colorado Vaccine Guidelines www.aarp.org/coronavirus AARP’s state-by-state coronavirus vaccine guides is updated daily. In the right-hand column, click on “the vaccine in your state.”