Thread by @anandiyermd

1/ Last wk I asked #medtwitter how to ⬇️ barriers to #covidvaccination in elders👇🏾. Reframe the question: Who’s at risk for missing the vaccine? #geriatrics must play a ⬆️ role. Amplifying: @wassdoc @geri_doc @LouiseAronson @sharon_inouye @MLRobertsonMD
@DavidCGrabowski

https://twitter.com/anandiyermd/status/1350555600296554506

2/@judith_graham writes on aging for @KHNews & wrote an excellent piece about the barriers to the #covidvaccine in older adults for @cnn 👇🏾. Honored to offer a quote alongside @PreetiNMalani & others. 🙏🏽

@UABNews @uabmedicine @UABSOM @DrVickersUAB @DrJeanneM @DrEllenEaton

https://twitter.com/judith_graham/status/1355275572746719234

3/ Stories like this one from @arghavan_salles & others highlight how sad the complicated vaccine rollout has been for older adults. And these are elders w/ physician children who are having difficulties.

https://twitter.com/arghavan_salles/status/1354957430208090113

4/ The Clear Problem: older adults are at ⬆️ risk for dying from #covid19 & ~1 in 5 (10M) of the ~50M >65yo risk missing #covidvaccination = homebound + ⬇️ mobility, fxn, cognition + no transport/internet + live alone. @geri_doc can correct me.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamai…

5/ Q: Which older adults are especially at risk for being in those situations ☝🏾?

A: Poor, minorities, & rural. All already at high risk for poor #covid19 outcomes, high vaccine hesitancy, & health disparities. Vicious covid cycle. How do we identify them and reach out?

https://twitter.com/drvantilburg/status/1351237364102942722

6/ Rural elders live miles from anything & rural health disparities are worsening in chronic lung & heart dz, dementia (washingtonpost.com/health/chronic…) @haiderwarraich @Sarah_H_Cross

And now #covidvaccination:
theconversation.com/getting-covid-…

7/ Who are the major stakeholders to help us reach older adults who may fall through cracks:
- Pharmacies
- Clinicians (geri, PCP)
- Home health
- Elder nutrition programs
- Area Agencies on Aging
- Religious org, pastors
- Community health workers
- Caregivers
- Senior centers

8/ Potential #COVIDVaccination barriers for elders:

A) Registration: limited tech literacy, no computers, ⬇️vision/hearing, long/complex forms w/ small letters, no caregivers to help fill them out

B) Day of vaccine: no transport & long lines w/ no ramps, seating areas, heating.

9/ Potential solutions to get shots in arms in or near 🏠 w/ minimal exposure:
- Harness elder nutrition programs, Home health, EMS, caregivers
- Pop-up clinics at churches ⛪️
- Mobile vaccinations 🚐
- Door-to-door like census @RanuDhillon
- Millennials volunteers for tech help!

https://twitter.com/ranudhillon/status/1350633619685994498

10/ Finally, as a pulmonologist & intensivist, my friends & I have seen firsthand the devastation that #covid19 has done to older adults. They are the majority of the people in our ICUs. We’ve intubated so many. 😢 We must do right by them & help them get #covidvaccination.

@kari_jerge @uche_blackstock @gradydoctor @SciFleur @WesElyMD @syramadad @jeremyfaust @EWidera @GeriPalBlog