Scheduling vaccine appointments has been challenging for most seniors, now the ‘Vaccine Buddy Program’ helps with the sign-up process.
As the city of Hamden and all of New Haven County prepare to push out the COVID-19 vaccine, elderly residents have struggled to get appointments via the state portal. There have been communication issues between state officials and those eligible to receive the vaccine. When calling the state COVID-19 resource center, common complaints include four-hour wait times and difficulty navigating the state vaccination website.
As a result of the various complaints, the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Greater New Haven and the Agency of Aging of South Central Connecticut created the “Vaccine Buddy Program,” to serve as a vaccination resource for people in New Haven County.
The Executive Director of Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Greater New Haven, Jane Ferrall, said she hopes the newly created program will help people have access to resources and get vaccinated quicker.
“We started about a month ago,” Ferrall said. “… we are matching seniors to volunteers who will help them get registered for the vaccine. They make it as easy as possible for that person, and on top of that, we also will provide them with a ride to the place, a personal ride.”
The Vaccine Buddy Program is focused on helping seniors living independently, who often lack access to computers or the internet. Seniors living in care facilities typically receive assistance when making vaccination appointments.
Program manager of the Agency of Aging of South Central Connecticut volunteer program, Cherie Strucaly, sees the program as “a good opportunity to support our local seniors.”
Roughly 60 volunteer “buddies” are currently assigned to help with registration and transportation.
“Volunteers get trained and then get assigned a client that they connect with and provide them assistance in making an appointment, and they’re making sure that they are scheduled for transportation,” Strucaly said.
Terry Russo, a 79-year-old Hamden resident, said “the process (of registering for the vaccine) was very difficult and time consuming.”
Russo, who got her second dose of the vaccine two weeks ago, went through the process without assistance, not knowing that the help of the ‘Vaccine Buddy Program’ was an option.
Once a volunteer is paired with a senior, it’s only a matter of hours before they have their appointment and transportation to the vaccine location.
“There was one lady that we have already brought and she has gotten vaccinated,” Ferrall said. “She’s 99 and she’s still living in her own home. She probably wouldn’t have gotten her shot anytime soon (without the help of the program).”
Ann Levison, one of the programs volunteers, said most of the people she speaks with are happy to have someone walk them through the process, and just have someone to chat with for a few minutes.
“Due to the pandemic, I can’t drive people anymore, but I am more than happy to help sign them up,” she said.
Christian Tallo, another volunteer who’s been assigned one of the seniors, sees the program as “… an easy way to help, because you can do it all from the comfort of your home.”
Tallo, who works in a medical clinic, was already able to get the vaccine. He still feels the program “had a good start,” but has room for improvement.
“I think an improvement that could be made is that each volunteer can get a couple of referrals at a time because it only takes a couple of minutes to really work out certain details,” Tallo said.
Tallo and Levison are hoping to get others to do their part and become volunteers.
“I urge people to help,” Tallo said. “It’s very easy, you don’t need to meet anyone in person and it only takes a couple minutes.”
The services offered by the buddy program are free to seniors living independently in the Greater New Haven area.
If you’re interested in volunteering, call the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Greater New Haven at (203) 230-8994 or visit their website to fill out a form at: http://www.carenewhaven.org/ .
