THE COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been ramping up across the country, the state of California and Los Angeles County with millions of residents getting vaccinated.
However, there is a group of individuals who are being underserved, homebound older adults that have been unable to leave their homes to get vaccinated. To tackle this disparity, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Health Department and their mobile COVID-19 vaccination program to provide Asian American and Pacific Islander homebound older adults with in-home COVID-19 vaccinations. To get started, residents can simply call the in-language NAPCA Helpline for assistance in completing the application and scheduling all appointments and home visits. Trained staff from the Los Angeles County Health Department will come to an individual’s home and administer first and second shots of the vaccine, along with any booster shots that may be needed.
“Mobility and language access continue to be obstacles our elders struggle with. NAPCA is proud to be a partner with the LA County Health Department and its In-Home COVID-19 Vaccinations for Homebound Residents. Due to fears attributed to the pandemic and the rise of anti-Asian hate, our elders have been reluctant to go out in public. Now, they will be able to receive vaccinations without leaving their homes. More than 2.5 million Los Angeles County residents are limited English proficient, 240,000 of whom are 65 years and older. NAPCA’s Helpline was designed to ensure our elders receive in-language support by phone to the resources and the care they need. This vital service will protect the most vulnerable so that our communities can safely recover,” said Joon Bang, president & CEO of NAPCA.
Since the start of the pandemic, NAPCA’s Helpline has been critical in supporting the elderly Asian American and Pacific Islander community receive the aid they need. NAPCA’s early partnership with Lyft and Shaper Hands to provide free delivery of essential goods is a testament to their dedication to this often overlooked community. Now, in seven different languages, the Helpline has national in-language support for those needing help filling out the application for their in-home vaccination. The Helpline also has information on COVID-19 prevention, symptoms, and planning. Along with recorded guided meditations to support individuals by providing exercises in grounding, relaxation, breathing, and gratitude.
Residents can call the NAPCA Helpline and request an in-home vaccination over the phone in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, or Spanish. The NAPCA Helpline is available 7 days a week from 8:00 am – 8:30 p.m. PST. Dial 1-800-336-2722 for English or 1-800-593-8087 for Tagalog.
Or residents can sign up directly by filling out the form online: https://tinyurl.com/9txudt9b
Referrals from organizations, agencies, providers, caregivers, family members and loved ones are all welcome.
Participating in-home vaccination providers include:
- NAPCA (National Asian Pacific Center on Aging)
- Oxford HealthCare & MaxVax (previously known as Anchor Home)
- Med Arrive and Falck Mobile Health
- Participating local fire departments
- Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department n
