Vaccination clinic caters to people with autism

Trey Gillece, 20, was nervous as he rode the escalator up to the second floor at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and entered a concourse remade as a coronavirus vaccination clinic.

Trey, who has autism, was among the first served during the clinic hosted by the Eagles Autism Foundation and Divine Providence Village, a residential facility in Delaware County for people with intellectual disabilities. The event catered to the autism community, which has faced some particular challenges in getting vaccinated.

Some families worry that children with autism won’t be able to wait in long lines at walk-up clinics, or may have challenging behaviors while getting vaccinated, said Ryan Hammond, executive director of the Eagles Autism Foundation.

The foundation tried to create a sensory-friendly experience — repurposing luxury boxes as “quiet spaces” with fidget toys, weighted blankets and light projections on the ceiling, intended to create a calming atmosphere. Families could spend time there if a child became overwhelmed, and in some cases, nurses entered to administer vaccines privately.

Families have also been struggling to access doses: some states haven’t included autism on their list of conditions to be prioritized for vaccination.

The clinic was for eligible people with autism — who had to be 18 or older — and family members, Hammond said. Just over 1,000 people registered for the Moderna doses.

“This population needs support, ”Hammond said.“We need to meet them where they are.”