South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
JARC-FL clients with disabilities, staff receive COVID-19 vaccine
Residents and staff members of JARC Florida in Boca Raton received what the organization considers an important first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
JARC FL (formerly Jewish Association for Residential Care) is an organization that provides group homes, apartments and vocational training for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Over a period of a couple of days, a total of 175 vaccinations were given at the organization’s facility.
Jeffrey M. Zirulnick, the organization’s chief executive officer, said following the first day of vaccinations, “Today was a great day to be able to vaccinate our residents and their care givers as we continue to take the steps to provide for their safety and well-being.”
“This also allows our programs to move forward in a safe and positive way,” he continued.
The organization has advocated for the vaccine to be available for its residents as a study released in November found that individuals with developmental disabilities are significantly more likely than others to die if they contract COVID-19.
The study was released as a white paper from FAIR Health, a nonprofit with a private health care claims database, in conjunction with the West Health Institute and Marty Makary of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
JARC FL found that the study mirrors a handful of others that have looked specifically at the fate of people with developmental disabilities during the pandemic.
The findings indicate that individuals with developmental disabilities have more co-occurring conditions including hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. The researchers also noted that people with developmental disabilities are more likely to live in congregate settings where it’s harder to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Due to the findings, the organization closed its residence homes and apartments to the public back in March at the start of the pandemic. Many residents did not see their parents and loved ones in person for over six months because of restrictions.
“The families are struggling because they can’t see them because we’ve implemented a lockdown,” Zirulnick said in a news release.
However, Zirulnick continued, “Our priority is keeping our residents and clients safe.”
A few of the organization’s clients who received the vaccine explained what they hope it will mean for them.
“I am happy to have the vaccine,” said Randy Kirtley. “I want to be able to go back to work.”
Shawn Goldberg said, “I miss being able to hug my brother.”
“Hopefully we can be together again soon,” he continued.
Visit jarcfl.org for more information on the organization.