The holidays are fast approaching, and for many of us, that means eagerly looking forward to time with friends, family, and loved ones. Don’t let your anticipation for shared meals, gift exchanges, and other festive fun keep you from remembering just how important it is to protect those we love, particularly those with disabilities and/or underlying health conditions. One of the best ways we can do this is by getting our COVID-19 and flu shots before spending the season together.
In this month's newsletter, we spend some time with Wynee Fair. Wynee is a member of the Black community who is committed to protecting her family. That’s why she chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fair also has a psychiatric disability. When she heard about the COVID-19 vaccine, she didn’t hesitate to get it. Her family is diabetic, and Fair knew that getting the shot would help her protect them.
“I trusted the vaccine,” Fair said. “And I trusted the government.”
Fair recently lost a family member to diabetes. It's important to her now more than ever that she and her family protect themselves, each other, and their health.
She has tried to convince her son to get his COVID-19 vaccine, but he remains skeptical. He, like many others, is concerned about the speed with which the vaccine was created. Fair won’t give up though, remaining determined to protect him. You can learn more about vaccine safety by visiting Able South Carolina's vaccine frequently asked questions page.
“Trust the numbers,” Fair said when asked what she’d say to encourage others to get their COVID-19 vaccine.
If you’re considering the COVID-19 vaccine but are feeling hesitant, reach out to your doctor or another medical professional you trust to find out which shot is best for you.
Learn more about your risk of getting sick from COVID-19 and how the vaccine can help protect you, as a member of the BIPOC with disabilities community.
South Carolina Vaccine Access Hotline
To protect your family and those you love, consider talking to your doctor, or another trusted medical provider, about if the COVID-19 and Flu vaccines are right for you.
You can also contact the Disability Vaccine Access hotline, staffed by Able South Carolina and Disability Rights SC, at: (800) 787-6046
What the Disability Vaccine Access hotline can do:
- Address any concerns you may have about getting the vaccine
- Find a trusted medical provider
- Assist with vaccine appointment scheduling
- Navigate transportation to get your vaccine
- Offer resources and guidance on transportation to and from vaccine
- Answer some of the most common disability related questions related to the COVID-19 vaccine
- Provide information about accessible vaccine sites based on crowd sourced data
- Address other disability-related barriers about the vaccine you may be experiencing
Disclaimer: The staff of the Disability Vaccine Access Hotline are not licensed medical providers. They are unable to offer medical advice about the best vaccine for you or predict how the vaccine may affect you or your family.
