Orlando Commissioners announce plan to provide access to COVID vaccines for vulnerable citizens

ORLANDO Fla. — Two Orlando City Commissioners are partnering with local organizations to provide seniors with assistance in registering for the coronavirus vaccine.

Commissioners Regina Hill and Robert Stuart announced the initiative at a press conference Friday morning.

They’ll team up with Equal Ground Education Fund and Partners to ensure seniors on the West side of the city in particular get vaccinated.

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It’s help some of those residents say is long overdue.

Laureta Fudge lives in affordable housing for seniors in the Parramore area. She says she feels ignored by the vaccine rollout system.

“We were not considered when they gave out the vaccines, in places that we can go,” Fudge says.

State Senator Randolph Bracy says his office has been flooded with calls from West Orange County residents wanting the vaccine.

READ: Florida reports 146 more deaths Friday, almost 6,000 new coronavirus cases

“People are scared. People need it, and we haven’t had enough answers,” Bracy says.

The new initiative will provide assistance to these senior citizens to preregister for the vaccine and schedule their appointments.

They’ll then be connected with free transportation resources to take them to the new designated vaccine sites.

“This is a humanitarian effort,” Commissioner Hill says.

READ: Pfizer vaccine gives ‘robust protection’ with one dose for people who’ve had COVID-19

Equal Ground Education Fund will spearhead the effort to reach residents over 65 in these districts by text or phone.

Starting Saturday, dozens of volunteers will canvass Orlando’s West side offering vaccine signup assistance to seniors in need.

Cox Media Group