We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the new SC Disability Vaccine Access Network, a partner-led program funded by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Administration for Community Living.
The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network is a group of disability-focused nonprofits, state agencies and leaders in SC with a mission to act against COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and barriers to vaccine access that impact the disability community. The network has developed a statewide awareness campaign based on effective outreach including vaccine resources, the SC Disability Vaccine Access Hotline, and accessible materials such as posters, videos and social media graphics, to provide the disability community with more information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Partners include AccessAbility, Disability Rights SC, the South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council, the University of South Carolina Center for Disability Resources and Walton Options.
For more information about the network and its campaign, visit SCDisabilityVaccine.org or
call the SC Disability Vaccine Access Hotline at 1-800-787-6046.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SC DISABILITY VACCINE ACCESS NETWORK?
The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network was created to educate individuals in the disability community about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, provide help to overcome barriers to getting vaccinated, and to help those who want to get vaccinated to get the shot. The goal of the network is to provide vaccine information in a plain-language, accessible format that can easily be distributed among the disability community and related audiences, and to serve as a guide for people with disabilities in SC who may face barriers to getting the vaccine.
WHY IS THIS NETWORK SPECIFICALLY REACHING OUT TO THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY? People with disabilities are considered a high-risk group for severe sickness and death caused by COVID-19. Since one in three South Carolinians has a disability, the lack of access to healthcare is the biggest barrier people with disabilities face when seeking COVID-19 prevention, treatment and education. The SC Disability Vaccine Access Network was created to educate those individuals and provide help to overcome those barriers.
