OKC-County Health Department Working To Help Homebound Seniors Get Vaccinated

As thousands of Oklahomans continue to get vaccinated each day, some local health departments said they’re working to help Oklahoma City metro homebound seniors get their shot.

 The Oklahoma City-County Health Department said they’re working with the Department of Human Services to get homebound individuals vaccinated.

Health officials said even though these seniors aren’t out in the community often, it’s still important they get the vaccine. 

"They could still get it if somebody visits their home," said Molly Fleming with OCCHD. "So we want to make sure that they're taken care of because it's a lonely time to be in the hospital." 

Fleming said DHS identifies if someone is homebound and then will help them schedule an appointment.  The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also helping, because it reduces the number of visits homebound patients will have to make.

"Find those folks who can maybe get out of their house, maybe for that one time to get the Johnson & Johnson," said Fleming.  

Fleming said it’s helpful to get these patients to a clinic if they’re physically able to, because each vaccine vial has multiple doses in it. Once it’s used, it’s easier to distribute to other patients.

"Other folks who really can't get out of the house, DHS is helping to coordinate visits from nurses," Fleming said. "Integris is helping a little bit with that as well."

OCCHD said some of these homebound seniors will be at their clinic Thursday at Oklahoma City Community College.