Harc Employees Among First To Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Press release from Harc:

Jan. 13, 2021

Harc’s direct care staff have been designated essential workers and prioritized as a group to be included in Phase 1A to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations. Many have already received the vaccine, while others have made their appointments for their opportunity to be inoculated.

Employees received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to schedule their appointments. Harc is not authorized to administer the vaccine, nor are primary health care providers at this time. Harc is not mandating that all employees get the vaccine, but Harc is doing all it can to encourage those who can get the vaccine to do so as soon as possible.

“We need to take any and all steps necessary to protect our staff and those we support,” said Ken Cabral, President, and CEO of Harc. “We are dedicated to providing the most accurate and current information about the vaccines to our staff so they can make the most informed decisions possible when it comes to receiving the shots.”

One of Harc’s legislative priorities this session is to have all the people they support in the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community prioritized to Phase 1B to receive the vaccine. Harc is advocating that the people who live on their own or with their families be included in Phase 1B. Harc believes it is critical to include people with IDD and their caregivers in Phase 1B.

According to The Arc Connecticut, people in the IDD community have COVID-19 mortality rates two to three times higher than the general population.

“Getting those in our community vaccinated in Phase 1B will bring us one step closer to allowing those we support to come out of isolation and to lead lives of quality, inclusion, and dignity,” said Cabral.

This press release was produced by Harc. The views expressed here are the author's own.