A Broward County nonprofit that serves the visually impaired has partnered with county health officials to create a COVID vaccine event for those experiencing vision loss.
Ellyn Drotzer, president and CEO of The Lighthouse of Broward County, said using technology to spread the word about COVID-19 vaccine distributions makes it difficult for people with impaired vision to access that information.
"A lot of the different opportunities to get vaccines were on websites and a lot of the websites aren’t necessarily accessible to people who are blind. And if they could get an appointment, they had difficulty getting there," she said. "Transportation is always an issue for people who are blind."
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Drotzer’s organization has partnered with theFlorida Department of Health in Broward County to host a vaccine event exclusively for visually impaired residents of Broward on Monday, March 22.
"The health department will be there with a nurse, and we'll have a paramedic truck on the property, in case there is an allergic reaction," Drotzer said.
The vaccines will be given to people who meet the state's current vaccine eligibility requirements.
"If you’re over 60 and you're blind or visually impaired, that’s fine," Drotzer said. "And if you’re 59 or younger, then you’ll have to have a doctor’s form attesting to your medical condition."
Drotzer also said Broward’s Transportation Options Program will provide transportation to and from the Lighthouse's vaccine site.
Vaccines will only be available for the event by appointment. Eligible people can call 954-463-4217 to schedule one.
