Naples Senior Center helps seniors get vaccines

Dr. Jaclynn Faffer President/ CEO

Naples Senior Center has become “vaccine central” for seniors attempting to secure appointments to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. What started as a small project of 150 appointments for Senior Center members over 80 years old and without technology, has developed into a community-wide program, where, to date, we have made more than 3,500 first-shot and 650 second-shot appointments for our seniors.

Among those numbers are 350 veterans and at least 10 individuals over 100 years old, with the eldest being a Senior Center member who just turned 106!

I am also proud of the connections I made for Beth Tikvah, Chabad and Temple Shalom with the County Department of Health so that they, too, could be part of the process! Although a trite phrase by now, we are all in this together.

How did it happen?

Several months ago, Commissioner Penny Taylor and I were talking about how difficult and frustrating the vaccine registration system was for all seniors, but particularly those who do not use technology. In that same phone call, Commissioner Taylor reached out to state Senator Kathleen Passidomo and the health department, and very quickly, Naples Senior Center was allocated 150 appointments for our seniors.

The system worked so well that we continue to get special allocations of appointments and links to Eventbrite for scheduling. Staff and volunteers are working diligently, tirelessly and enthusiastically to make sure seniors in our community get vaccinated.

How does it work?

Seniors call or email us, providing their information, such as name, date of birth, address and phone number. We put them on a list, eldest and veterans first, and contact them when we get our allocation of appointments. Every senior we talk to expresses how meaningful it is to have a person to talk with during this challenging time.

Of course, there are bumps in the road. Although we have added three telephone lines and brought in temporary help to supplement staff and volunteers, many times, the lines are so completely tied up that not everyone can get through.

At some point, I am sure this great need will diminish, but until then, we are proud to be part of the team that will help get us back to some semblance of normalcy!