EDITORIAL

'Sticking' those stuck at home

Posted 3/11/21

I got "sticked" Monday. It was painless. In fact, I was questioning when, after rubbing my arm with an alcohol swab, city wellness director Paula Ducharme was going to administer my first dose of Moderna vaccine. "That's it," she said dropping the needle

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EDITORIAL

'Sticking' those stuck at home

Posted

I got “sticked” Monday. It was painless. In fact, I was questioning when, after rubbing my arm with an alcohol swab, city wellness director Paula Ducharme was going to administer my first dose of Moderna vaccine.

“That’s it,” she said dropping the needle in a container. Done?

After all that has been reported over the development of COVID vaccines, their efficacy and then the bumpy rollout, this was anticlimactic. I showed up at the city clinic at 8:55 a.m. – my appointment was at 9 – and after a 15-minute observation, I was out the door. It went like clockwork.

The word “sticked,” however, stuck in my mind. I had not heard the term until I talked to James [not his real name, as he asked not to be identified].

I have yet to meet James in person, but after a couple of calls I learned of his love for this country as well as his frustration with bureaucracy. James came to this country from Britain more than 18 years ago, which surely explains the use of the word “sticked” for having been vaccinated. James is 85 and was among the early ones to be vaccinated following first responders and other key essential personnel.

But that wasn’t the reason I called last week.

I was calling about his wife, Judy, who is missing a good portion of her lungs and can barely walk. She was a resident at an assisted living facility when the shutdown happened a year ago. James said the place was marvelous for Judy. The facility is somewhat of a bubble where a group of about 12 residents share certain facilities, mutually engage in activities and even plan outings.

COVID changed that. Residents were confined to their rooms. Visitors weren’t allowed and strict guidelines aimed at preventing spread of the virus were adhered to. James could see the effect on Judy. She became withdrawn. She was depressed, and without activity her stamina deteriorated. She wasn’t walking and was glued to her room and TV for most of the day. He feared for her, and contrary to advice, he brought her home.

Her mental condition improved, but now he lacked the support the facility had provided. When the vaccine was made available to people 75 years old and older, James wanted Judy to get it. The issue was getting Judy to a clinic.

Meg Underwood, city director of senior services, told me Judy’s situation is not unique. She estimated there are 25 homebound residents not fit to be transported to a clinic and would be better off if vaccinated at home. This seemed to be the answer for Judy.

Was that possible?

Meg told me there were no provisions to vaccinate the homebound. The gap in service was brought up at last week’s COVID press conference. Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said the state would be interviewing vendors to provide the service. So far, the service hasn’t been provided. There was hope for James, but it looked like Judy would have to wait.

The solution seemed so obvious. On Monday, the last day of first dose vaccines at the Warwick clinic, one of those administering the shots could visit Judy at home and “stick” her. Mayor Frank Picozzi thought that sensible, too. He said he would run it by Fire Chief Peter McMichael. I gave him James’s phone number.

I called James, who informed me he didn’t want to wait and risk losing Judy. He had made an appointment for Judy at the Warwick clinic and that somehow he would get her there and into the Veterans Middle School gym. I said I would probably see him there, as I was getting my shot Monday.

The mayor got back to me. They couldn’t send someone out to James’s home, but on Judy’s arrival at the clinic they could send someone out to give her a shot, as is the practice for people with ambulatory issues.

I called James, who had made arrangements through Blue Cross to get Judy to the clinic. He was excited to learn she would not need to get out of the vehicle.

I still wasn’t satisfied. Why couldn’t the homebound be serviced by Warwick firefighter EMTs who, after all, enter peoples’ homes and provide care in emergencies? It seemed we have the capability of serving this population.

As I waited out my 15 minutes of observation, I spotted Jonathan Faucher, who along with Jason Umbenhauer is managing the Warwick clinic. They will continue in that role as the clinic transfers its focus to Gov. Dan McKee’s goal to reopen all schools and get teachers and school personnel vaccinated.

Faucher told me personnel could not administer the vaccine off site because a pharmacist and doctor that are required to operate a clinic would not be present. It was not as simple as it appeared.

Later Monday morning, I received a call from James. Judy was home again. He was excited. As planned, Judy didn’t leave the van that transported her to Vets. James was impressed. Not only were they prepared to meet Judy, but the fire chief was there and the mayor called him. He was delighted. This was community pulling together and what he loves about this country.

Judy had been “sticked,” but wouldn’t it have been better for her to stay at home?

shots, vaccine, editorial

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