For faster vaccine distribution, call upon senior medical centers

After watching Florida become one of the nation’s COVID hot spots, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. State agencies have begun to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines to the population, including to those 65 and older. But while seniors may be most in need of the vaccine, they are also the most difficult to reach due to accessibility.

The current distribution system requires the person to schedule an appointment online — which automatically requires a certain degree of computer savvy and, at this point, speed — and have their own transportation. Both requirements are limiting to many seniors, particularly those that are poor and very elderly.

If state agencies distributed the vaccine to senior medical centers, we would quickly mediate this accessibility issue. In IMC Health’s case, we serve 10,000 Medicare patients. We have the capabilities to ensure a smooth rollout of vaccinations to that high-risk demographic. Our primary care providers can identify higher-risk patients, conduct outreach to them and, in many cases, provide transportation. We have multiple locations, advanced reporting and the clinical infrastructure to train and supervise the staff administering the vaccines.

To end this pandemic once and for all, we need to ensure that our most vulnerable senior population is looked after. That’s why trusted senior medical centers need to be included in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Mayda Antun, Chief Medical Officer of IMC Health Medical Centers in Florida