Equitable Vaccinations

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The South Carolina Vaccine Access Program

Last update: 8/22/2023

1 in 3 people in South Carolina have a disability
Of the disability community in South Carolina:
- 33.6% of Black residents in South Carolina have a disability
- 35.1% of Latinx South Carolinians live with a disability
- 48.7% of Indigenous people living in South Carolina live with a disability

Funded by the CDC Foundation, this project is designed to encourage vaccination against COVID-19 and the flu by members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)* community. Every 1 in 3 people in South Carolina has some type of disability. Disability** intersects with nearly every community, including BIPOC communities. In keeping with our organization’s mission, Able South Carolina is concentrating our work with this program around members of the BIPOC community who have disabilities. It’s our hope that we can encourage members of our BIPOC community with disabilities to talk with their doctors, or other trusted medical providers, about receiving the COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Because #ThisIsOurShot.

*What is BIPOC? Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, referred to as “BIPOC,” is a person-first language term that allows users to shift away from using terms like marginalized or minority to speak specifically to the needs of these populations. Black refers to people of African or Caribbean descent. Indigenous refers to people who are native to North America. People of Color is a blanket term that describes people who are not white. This can include many Latinx people, people of east or south Asian descent, and Pacific Islanders, to name a few.

**What is Disability? A disability is a health condition that makes it harder to do certain activities. Disability is a very broad term that can include physical disabilities, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental or emotional illnesses, hearing and vision loss, and others. Some disabilities are visible and others are not. Examples of disabilities can include conditions like diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, asthma, bipolar disorder, anxiety, a mobility disability that requires a walker or wheelchair, etc. Disability is also a legal term used to make sure people with these conditions are protected.

ENGLISH: Graphic illustration of eight boxes with one box in the center that has the campaign message. It reads This is Our Shot. All letters are white except our, which is bright green over a dark blue background. Remaining illustrations include a young Latina woman in a mask holding up her arm with a bandaid on it in front of a light green background, woman with a visual disability with a mask on and bandaid on her arm in front of a teal background, young man with a mask and bandaid on his arm and a prosthetic arm holding a thumbs up in front of a light blue background, two bandaids in an x shape on a dark blue background, blue face mask on a yellow background, young Black man with a mask on and bandaid on his arm with crutches on a teal background, white woman with a mask on and pointing to a bandaid on her arm in a wheelchair on a light blue background, and an older Black man with a mask on and a bandaid on his arm holding up his arm on a light green background. SPANISH: Ilustración gráfica de ocho cajas con una caja en el centro que tiene el mensaje de la campaña. Dice “Esta es nuestra vacuna”. Todas las letras son blancas excepto la de nuestra, que es de color verde brillante sobre un fondo azul oscuro. El resto de las ilustraciones incluyen a una joven latina con una máscara que sostiene su brazo con una curita delante de un fondo verde claro, una mujer con discapacidad visual con una máscara y una curita en el brazo delante de un fondo azul marino, un hombre joven con una máscara y una curita en el brazo y una prótesis sosteniendo un pulgar hacia arriba delante de un fondo azul claro, dos curitas en forma de x sobre un fondo azul oscuro, una máscara azul sobre un fondo amarillo, un joven negro con una máscara y una curita en el brazo con muletas sobre un fondo verde azulado, una mujer blanca con una máscara y señalando una curita en el brazo en una silla de ruedas sobre un fondo azul claro, y un hombre negro mayor con una máscara y una curita en el brazo sosteniendo su brazo sobre un fondo verde claro.

As Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) with Disabilities, you are at higher risk of being very sick or dying from COVID-19 and the flu. These are the facts:

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the nickname for coronavirus. COVID-19 can make people sick. COVID-19 is spread through germs. These germs can be spread through the air. If you get COVID-19, it can cause you to have difficulty breathing, run a fever, and feel tired; you could end up in the hospital or die.

COVID-19 may have kept you from doing many of the things you like to do. These include meeting with friends and family, working, and attending events.

Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?

As Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC) with Disabilities, you are at higher risk of being very sick or dying from COVID-19 and the flu. These are the facts:

Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) with disabilities are at greater risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19.

You may be at greater risk because:

The type of disability you have can make you very sick if you get COVID-19
COVID-19 can make the disability symptoms you already have get worse
If you have a breathing disability, getting COVID-19 can make it a lot harder to breathe
You may have limited mobility or cannot avoid coming into close contact with others who could be infected, such as direct support providers and family members
You may have a hard time understanding information about COVID-19 (Source 1 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021 and Source 2 - Gleason et al., 2021)
You may have a hard time washing your hands and staying at least 6 feet away from others to protect yourself from COVID-19
You may not be able to communicate or explain how you are feeling
Social factors may increase your risk of serious illness from COVID-19

Other reasons to receive the COVID-19 Vaccine:

You can better protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the COVID-19 vaccine
Although the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended in May 2023, the vaccine is still free. The vaccine will be free for as long as it takes the government to use the vaccines it has already bought (Source 48. HHS 2023).

Help and tools are available to help you get to vaccination sites or answer questions that you may have about the vaccine and your risks.

You can get help with your vaccine plan by calling the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046. They can help you make an appointment, arrange transportation, and answer your vaccination questions.

What is the flu?

Why should I also get the flu vaccine?

(Source 3 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

COVID-19 is causing more people to die than the flu. But, it is just as important for you to understand your risk of the flu and how you can protect yourself with a flu vaccine.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with disabilities have a higher risk of getting sick with the flu and having a hard time getting better.

The flu can be very dangerous for people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities also have health conditions that make it easier for them to get the flu or get very sick from the flu.

If you have disabilities that impact your muscle function, lung function, or who have difficulty coughing, swallowing, or drinking liquids, you have a higher risk of getting very sick from the flu.

The same reasons disability makes someone have a higher risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 also puts you at a higher risk of getting the flu.

You could also be at higher risk because of the following:

The type of disability you have
You have a hard time understanding medical information or directions
You need one-on-one help from a direct service provider or family member to help you with daily living activities like getting dressed, eating, bathing, and taking your medicine.
You have a hard time remembering to take care of things like taking showers and washing your hands.
You have other concerns because of your disability or health condition

Your disability and the impact of race can make you have an even higher risk of getting the flu and becoming sick. If you have a disability and are a part of the BIPOC community, you are at even more risk than white people who may have a disability. If you get the flu, you are more likely to be hospitalized, put in intensive care, and die in the hospital.

Other reasons to get the flu vaccine:

You can better protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the flu vaccine
The flu vaccine has been available for decades and millions of people a year receive the flu vaccine
The flu shot may be free with medical insurance. You can also find free flu vaccines at most medical clinics
You can get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time (Source 33 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 34 - Harris, K., 2022; Source 35 - Ben-Joseph, E. and Ravin, K., 2022)

What is the flu shot?

The flu shot is a vaccine that helps your body fight against the flu virus. The flu shot helps your body protect you against getting the flu.

Flu shots teach your body how to fight the flu. The shot helps you not get the flu and protects other people around you from getting the flu.

There are many different options for the flu shot, so it’s important to talk with your doctor.

The most common types of flu shots:

Flu shot: Given with a needle in your arm
Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine: Live flu vaccine given in a nose spray
- For people with certain disabilities that may weaken your immune system or if you have a cochlear implant, you should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine (Source 4 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

There are many other types of flu shots. To learn about all of the flu shots, you can visit the CDC website.

What makes COVID-19 and the flu alike?

(Source 4 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

COVID-19 and flu vaccines are approved and/or approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
COVID-19 and the flu can make people with disabilities get very sick, have to go to the hospital, and even die.
COVID-19 and the flu have vaccines available to slow the spread of the sickness. Both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines will protect you and others around you.
COVID-19 and flu symptoms are similar
COVID-19 and the flu may take a day or more before a person starts to feel sick
The spread of both COVID-19 and the flu is from person to person. Being close to one another can easily spread COVID-19 and the flu if someone is sick.

What is the difference between COVID-19 and the flu?

COVID-19 can make you much sicker than the flu, especially for people with disabilities who are also in the BIPOC community (Source 38 - Mayo Clinic, 2022; Source 46 - DeSimone, D.C., M.D., 2022)
COVID-19 is easier to spread than the flu. COVID-19 is one of the most infectious & fastest spreading airborne illnesses in world history. It is very easy to catch COVID-19 (Source 36 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 37 - Bollinger, R., Maragakis, L., & Ray, S., 2022; Source 39 - Wilder-Smith, A., 2021; Source 47 - Scudellari, M., 2022)
It can take you longer to feel sick when you get COVID-19
The flu is a respiratory sickness. This means it is an illness in your lungs.
COVID-19 is not just a respiratory sickness. It can also hurt other organs in your body. It can cause damage to places like your heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs. It can also cause damage to other systems like the blood and immune system. (Source 5 - A. COVID-19 in comparison with other emerging viral diseases: Konturek et al., 2020 and Source 6 - Wang et al., 2020)
COVID-19 symptoms last longer than the flu
- The flu usually lasts for 1 to 4 days;
  - With the flu, you usually get sick within a week of being infected
  - You can still spread the flu virus up to a week after you start feeling better
- COVID-19 lasts for 2-14 days or longer
  - It could take 5 to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 to start after you become infected.
  - You can spread COVID-19 before you have symptoms.
- Some people who have the flu or COVID-19 can spread the illnesses for a longer amount of time than others. These people have a harder time fighting infection. These people include:
  - People who have not had their COVID-19 vaccines or flu shot
  - Infants
  - People with disabilities
  - People with weakened immune systems

(Source 7 - Owusu et al., 2021; Source 8 - Tarhini et al., 2021; Source 9 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)

Why do I have a greater risk of sickness than white people with disabilities?

BIPOC with disabilities are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 (Source 10 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021) and a higher risk of getting very sick and dying because of COVID-19 (Source 11 - COVID Tracking Project and the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, 2021 and Source 12 - Artiga, Corallo, and Pham, 2020).
There is a gap in public health due to medical racism. Medical racism is when BIPOC are discriminated against in healthcare settings.
- The CDC reports that Black and Indigenous people are more likely to die from COVID-19. (Source 13 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
  - Black people in the U.S. are 1.7 times more likely to die from COVID-19
  - Indigenous people in the U.S. are more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19
  - Latinx people in the U.S. are 1.8 times more likely to die from COVID-19 (than White, Non-Hispanic individuals). (Source 40 - Artiga, S. and Hill, L., 2022; Source 41 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022; Source 42 - Despres, C., 2022; Source 13- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)
  - You can lower your risk of death by getting vaccinated

As of August, 2022:

Black people are 27% of the total population in South Carolina.
Black people make up 38% of people who have been in the hospital for COVID-19 in South Carolina.
Black people make up 32% of people who have died from COVID-19 in South Carolina.

**Note: As of June 30, 2023, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control will only publish statistics about vaccination rates in South Carolina.**

The CDC says people with 1 or more medical conditions are 1.5 times more likely to die from COVID-19. You can lower your risk by getting vaccinated (Source 14 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
1 in 3 people in South Carolina have a disability (Source 15 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
Of the disability community in South Carolina:
- 33.6% of people with disabilities are Black (Source 16 - Disability and Health Data System, 2020)
- 35.1% of people with disabilities are Latinx (Source 16 - Disability and Health Data System, 2020)
- 48.7% of people with disabilities are Indigenous (Source 16 - Disability and Health Data System, 2019)
Based on these numbers, BIPOC with disabilities are at an even greater risk of getting very sick and dying. You can help protect yourself by getting your flu shot and your COVID-19 vaccine
A CDC report published in February 2023 showed that vaccinated people who had received a bivalent booster (a vaccine that protects against two different kinds of COVID-19) were slightly more protected against COVID.
Vaccinated and boosted people were much less likely to get sick and die from COVID-19 than those without. (Source 49: CDC 2023. Source 49: CDC 2023.)

What other reasons put me at risk because of my disability and race?

Your doctors may not always believe you when you share your health needs
Your doctor may not always understand your disability
Many other reasons may put you at an increased risk, such as:
- where you live
- lack of access to medical care
- costs of medical care
- the type of disability you have.
Please see below for examples:
Where you Live

- As a member of the BIPOC community, you are more likely to live far away from COVID-19 vaccination centers, testing sites, and doctors' offices
- You may live in a healthcare facility
- You may not have the same type of access to healthcare as white people with and without disabilities, and other BIPOC without disabilities
- You may need a special type of medical doctor that does not have an office near you
- You may live in an area that does not have public transportation and/or you do not have your own transportation
- You live far away from medical help, which might make it hard for you to get the help you need
- You live far away, so you might not get help until much later, making it harder for doctors to help you get better.
What can you do? You can call the SC Disability Vaccine Access Hotline to get help getting a ride to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Access to Medical Care

- BIPOC with disabilities are at higher risk because of having a history of negative experiences with their medical care
- As a disabled BIPOC, you may not have the same access to healthcare as everyone else (Source 18 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
- You may not have been able to get to medical exams because the doctor’s office is not accessible.
- You may not have received proper care because the devices or medical table were not accessible.
- You may have felt like the nurses, doctors, or other medical staff had a negative attitude toward your or your disability.
- You may have had a hard time understanding what your doctor or medical staff were telling you.
- You may have felt your disability was ignored.
- You may have felt that the doctor or medical staff didn't understand your disability.
- You may have gone to the doctor before and felt they didn’t believe you
- If you don’t speak English, you may have felt ignored by your doctor because of language barriers
- You may have felt that you did not get the treatment you needed

Costs

- You might need health insurance
- Health insurance helps people pay for healthcare
- Without insurance, you might be less likely to go to the doctor or hospital because of the cost.
- You may have other costs like childcare, transportation, parking, or missing work that might make it harder to get to a free COVID-19 testing or vaccination site.

Your type of disability, where you live, access to care, and cost are all things that might keep you away from the doctor or a free testing site.

If you can’t get tested, you don’t know if you have COVID-19
If you don’t know if you have COVID-19, you can accidentally give COVID-19 to other people
If you don’t know you have COVID-19, you might get very sick before getting help
You might not want to go to the doctor. If you don’t go to the doctor, you might not learn you are sick until much later, when you could be much sicker and have a hard time getting better

What can you do?

Call the SC Disability Vaccine Access hotline to get help with finding a ride to vaccines or testing, get information about doctors near you, and find out where you can get tested or get your COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
You can get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines and ask your friends, family, and caregivers to also get the vaccines.
You can get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time (Source 19 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). The vaccines protect you from getting very sick

Why should I trust the COVID-19 vaccine?

There are many historical reasons why Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color with disabilities might not trust medical companies or politicians who tell you to get vaccinated (Source 20 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

You might be afraid to get the vaccine because of information that isn't true
You may have experienced trauma from the medical care you’ve received. Trauma can include serious physical or emotional harm
You may be worried because information about your disability may not be included in the information you are getting about the vaccination
Maybe you’re worried because the scientists keep changing the information
Maybe you have read one thing about COVID-19, but a new thing you’ve read says something different
Maybe the information is not shared in a way that you can understand

It can be hard to know what’s right or wrong. Here are the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine:

Studies show these vaccines are safe for everyone, including BIPOC with disabilities
These vaccines help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can help keep you from getting very sick
Many independent groups, led by doctors of color, have done their own work to test the vaccines. They say the vaccines work and are safe (Source 21 - National Medical Association, 2020)
Scientists of color, like Dr. Kissmekia S. Corbett, led work on these vaccines to protect communities of color and their families from getting very sick from COVID-19 (Source 22 - Harvard University, 2021)
Many government officials, including all living U.S. presidents and current governors, have received COVID-19 vaccines (Source 23 - Link, 2021)
People in your community are getting the vaccine to stay healthy. Read their stories in our testimonials and newsletters, found on this page. Keep scrolling to learn from your peers!

I’ve already had COVID-19, so why should I get the vaccine?

Vanessa waited to get the shot and then got COVID-19. She was very sick. After she got better, she decided to get the shot to protect herself from getting sick again. She shared her story with us.

Otis Lee initially hesitated about getting his COVID-9 vaccine because he might still get sick anyway. As a person with a visual disability, he ultimately decided to get his shot to protect himself and others. He remains passionate about staying healthy. He shared his story with us.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend getting a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID. There is evidence that having been sick with COVID in the past and having been vaccinated against COVID-19 provides increased protection against getting COVID again. (Sources 50, WHO 2023. 51, CDC (2023).

The CDC recommends waiting at least 90 days after your COVID symptoms have gone away before getting a COVID vaccine or booster (Source 51)

Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have a disability?

Jonathan was nervous about how his disability would be affected by the vaccine. After some time decided to get the shot to protect himself and his family. He hopes others he loves will get the vaccine too so we can be healthy together. He shared his story with us.

Laquanda is Deaf and a double-hand amputee. She was nervous to get the shot when it first came available because she was pregnant and has disabilities. She decided to get her shot after talking to her doctor because she knew her disabilities put her at greater risk of getting very sick with COVID-19, and she wanted to be healthy for her kids. She is advocating for her family to do the same. She shared her story with us.

How does knowing someone who has already gotten their COVID-19 shot, and is doing well, encourage me to get the vaccine?

The COVID-19 vaccine has been available since 2020. This means you probably know one or more people who have gotten it and are doing well. This is good news for a few reasons:

If you are nervous, it gives you someone to talk to about how it went for them
Any common side effects they had will give you an idea of what might happen when you get the shot
If they are a person with a disability, they can share how they found a vaccine site that makes them comfortable
Hearing about another person’s experience might help you feel ready to make a decision about the vaccine
You might not know that you know someone who’s gotten the shot, but don’t be afraid to ask around
Having friends and family you can trust to talk about it goes a long way to help you feel more confident about getting the shot.

Do I need to show a legal photo ID to get vaccinated?

You do not need an ID to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Workers at the vaccine site may ask for ID, but you do not have to show it to them (Source 24 - National Immigration Law Center, 2021)
No one should be sent away, including children, for not showing an ID (Source 25 - SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, 2021)

Depending on the provider, you may be asked to show an ID to get a flu vaccine. You can call ahead to ask if this is a requirement.

What are my rights to access vaccines?

People with disabilities in the BIPOC community have civil rights. These rights mean that people cannot treat you badly just because of who you are as a person with a disability. You have the same rights to vaccines as white people and people without disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that you cannot be treated unfairly because you have a disability. The ADA requires public and state agencies to provide accommodations, so people with disabilities have the same access to services as people without disabilities. The ADA also requires that agencies make sure that these accommodations are available for people with disabilities to get information in a way that meets their needs. This includes any type of equipment to assist with providing services and accessible technology like websites (Source 26 - Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects people with disabilities from being treated unfairly because of your disability. This law applies to organizations that get financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This includes many hospitals, nursing homes, mental health centers, and human service programs (Source 27 - Rehabilitation Act, 1973)

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a national law that states that federal agencies have to provide information in a way that is accessible to everyone with disabilities. If you need information in a different way because of your disability, federal agencies have to provide this (Source 27 - Rehabilitation Act, 1973)
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that you can not be treated unfairly or left out of programs, or denied services because of your race, color, or national origin (Source 28 - Civil Rights Act of 1964, 1964)

Section 1557 of the Affordable Cares Act states that you cannot be treated unfairly because of your race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. This includes making sure language assistance is available for people who speak limited English and making sure there are accommodations for people with disabilities so that they have access to services (Source 29 - Patient Protection and Affordable Cares Act, 2010)

I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I get the vaccine? Is it still free for me?

**Note: Government officials have not yet said how vaccine access for undocumented immigrants will be affected by the ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). **

Yes. The vaccine is free and available to everyone over the age of 6 months in the United States. This includes people who are not citizens, documented, or undocumented.

It is against the law for you to have to prove that you are a citizen to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (Source 30 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

Will I risk being deported if I am undocumented and get the vaccine?

No. When you get your vaccine, someone may ask you for your ID or Social Security Number.

You do not have to give anyone an ID or Social Security Number to get the COVID-19 vaccine (Source 24 - National Immigration Law Center, 2021)
It is against the law to keep you from getting a vaccine because you don't have an ID (Source 24 - National Immigration Law Center, 2021).
Vaccines sites can’t keep you from getting a vaccine because of your citizenship status (Source 30 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
You can say no if someone asks you for any ID or Social Security Number. You can show them this webpage if they say you have to show them your ID. You can print it and bring it with you or use your phone or another device to show it. You can also call our hotline number for help: South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it would not enforce immigration laws at vaccination sites (Source 31 - U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2021)

Information collected in COVID-19 vaccinations can only be used to help the COVID-19 public health response (Source 32 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)
No group can get or send information that tells who you are (Source 24 - National Immigration Law Center, 2021)
It is illegal to use information about people who have gotten the vaccine to prosecute them.
People can’t use your information from your vaccine appointment to enforce immigration laws (Source 32 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021)

Why should I get these vaccines?

Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color with disabilities are at greater risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19 and the flu.
You can better protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting the COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine is free until the government runs out of the vaccines it purchased during the Public Health Emergency (Source 48). The flu vaccine is typically free if you have health insurance. The flu vaccine is also offered free of charge by many vaccine providers.
You can get both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time (Source 33 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). The vaccines protect you from sickness
Resources are available to help you get to vaccination sites
People can help you make your vaccine plan when you call the South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046. They can help you make an appointment, arrange transportation, and answer your questions about getting vaccinated

Do you still have questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine?

Check out SCDisabilityVaccine.org to learn about:

How the vaccines work
How the vaccine affects disabilities, including allergies
How the vaccine impacts fertility and pregnancy
How vaccination sites must offer you accommodations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act
How to talk to your family, caregivers, and others about the importance of getting the vaccine to protect you and others

Resources

Source 1:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 21). What do people with developmental disabilities need to know about COVID-19? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-developmental-disabilities.html.

Source 2:

Gleason, J., Fossi, A., Blonsky, H., Tobias, J., & Stephens, M. (2021, March 5). The Devastating Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the United States. NEJM Catalyst. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/CAT.21.0051.

Source 3:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, August 27). Flu & People with Disabilities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/people-with-disabilities.htm.

Source 4:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 7). Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm.

Source 5:

Konturek, P. C., Harsch, I. A., Neurath, M. F., & Zopf, Y. (2020). COVID-19 - more than the respiratory disease: a gastroenterologist's perspective. Journal of physiology and pharmacologyPhysiology: an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society, 71(2), 10.26402/jpp.2020.2.02. https://doi.org/10.26402/jpp.2020.2.02.

Source 6:

Wang, T., Du, Z., Zhu, F., Cao, Z., An, Y., Gao, Y., & Jiang, B. (2020). Comorbidities and multi-organ injuries in the treatment of COVID-19. Lancet (London, England), 395(10228), e52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30558-4.

Source 7:

Owusu, D., Pomeroy, M.A., Lewis, N.M., Wadhwa, A., Yousaf, A.R., Whitaker, B., Dietrich, E., Hall, A.J., Chu, V., Thornburg, N., Christensen, K., Kiphibane, T., Willardson, T, Westergaard, R., Dasu, T., Pray, I.W., Bhattacharyya, S., Dunn, A., Tate, J.E., Kirking, H.L., Matanock, A. (2021, October 15) Persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA Shedding Without Evidence of Infectiousness: A Cohort Study of Individuals With COVID-19. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224(8), 1362–1371. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab107.

Source 8:

Tarhini et al. (2021). Long-Term Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infectiousness Among Three Immunocompromised Patients: From Prolonged Viral Shedding to SARS-CoV-2 Superinfection. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 223(9), 1522–1527. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab075.

Source 9:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 17). Similarities and Differences between Flu and COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm.

Source 10:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 19). Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/race-ethnicity.html.

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Artiga, S., Corallo, B., & Pham, O. (2020, August 17). Racial Disparities in COVID-19: Key Findings from Available Data and Analysis. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-covid-19-key-findings-available-data-analysis/.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 14). Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19: Information for Healthcare Providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, and July 14, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/clinical-care/underlyingconditions.html#ref_15.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, October 14). Disability & Health U.S. State Profile Data for South Carolina (Adults 18+ years of age). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/impacts/south-carolina.html.

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Disability and Health Data System. (2019 & 2020). South Carolina Disability Estimates. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 2, 2022, from https://dhds.cdc.gov/SP?LocationId=45&CategoryId=DISEST&ShowFootnotes=true&showMode=&IndicatorIds=STATTYPE,AGEIND,SEXIND,RACEIND,VETIND&pnl0=Chart,false,YR4,CAT1,BO1,,,,AGEADJPREV&pnl1=Chart,false,YR4,DISSTAT,,,,,PREV&pnl2=Chart,false,YR4,DISSTAT,,,,,AGEAD.

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South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2021, November 15). Cases, Hospitalizations and Deaths Among Individuals Not Fully Vaccinated. SC DHEC. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-data/cases-hospitalizations-deaths-among-not-fully-vaccinated.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 10). Increased Risk Factors for Exposure: Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/racial-ethnic-disparities/increased-risk-exposure.html.

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Link, D. (2021, September 3). Fact check: 'Who's vaccinated?' all living presidents, governors; not most covid-19 victims. USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/09/02/fact-check-viral-post-vaccinated-politicians-doctors-little-off/5670809001/.

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D’Avanzo, B., Lundie, K., and Lessard, G. (2021, April 12). Answers to common questions about immigrants' access to the covid-19 vaccines. National Immigration Law Center. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://www.nilc.org/2021/04/12/immigrant-access-to-the-covid-19-vaccines/.

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South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2021, September 24). COVID-19 Vaccine & Vaccination FAQs. DHEC. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-faqs#gettingthevaccine.

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Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 (1990). https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm.

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Harris, K. (2021, November 22). OSF HealthCare Blog. Can I get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time? Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://www.osfhealthcare.org/blog/getting-multiple-vaccines/

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Ben-Joseph, E., and Ravin, K. (2022, June). Nemours Childrens’ Health. Can Kids Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Along With the Flu Vaccine? Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/covid-flu-vaccines.html

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South Carolina Disability Vaccine Access Hotline

Call (800) 787-6046 to Schedule Your Vaccine

A hotline staffed by Able South Carolina and Disability Rights South Carolina designed to provide people with disabilities information about many different aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine. These resources include but are not limited to:

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 crowdsourced 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.

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Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheets:

Disability Access in Vaccine Distribution
- This document explains some of the key federal laws and guidelines that are being used to make sure that people with disabilities do not face extra barriers in accessing vaccines and healthcare because of their disabilities.
Strategies for Helping Older Adults and People with Disabilities Access COVID-19 Vaccines
- This document explains that older adults and disabled people may have difficulty accessing COVID-19 vaccines and talks about some of the ways that states can make access easier. It shares some of the barriers that people can face and makes recommendations on what states can do to remove those barriers and gives examples of what some states are already doing to help disabled people access their vaccines.
Bulletin on Ensuring the Rights of Persons with Limited English Proficiency in Health Care During COVID-19
- Key abbreviation: Limited English Proficiency = LEP. This phrase is used all through the document.
- This bulletin lays out a timeline of the declarations of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It reminds health care workers that they must make sure that people who have limited use of English as a written or spoken language have equal access to health care information. This bulletin lists ways that a healthcare setting can be accessible to those with LEP and shares resources for health care workers if they have questions.
Bulletin on Civil Rights Protections Prohibiting Race, Color and National Origin Discrimination During COVTD-19
- This bulletin reminds health care workers like pharmacists, hospitals, caregivers, and other medical staff that discrimination by race, color, or national origin is illegal in these settings during COVID-19. It provides information on Section VI of the Civil Rights Act and talks about how providers can ensure that they are not discriminating against and violating the civil rights of any person based on their race, color, or national origin.
Webpage on Civil Rights and COVID-19
- This page has information about the Office of Civil Rights and other protection agencies ’ policies to make sure that everyone’s civil rights are protected during the COVID-19 pandemic. On this page, you will find links to information about the rights of many different groups of people that are at higher risk of discrimination. It also has links to education about COVID-19 in different languages and links that share rules and recommendations for programs that get government funding, including medical providers who file Medicare insurance claims.
Statement by the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights: Leading a Coordinated Civil Rights Response to COVID-19
- This link is to the statement made by Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Pamela S Karlan sharing resources and responses to civil rights concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can also find a downloadable copy of this statement in English and Spanish on this page.