FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 5, 2021
CONTACT:
Edie Surtees, Communications Director
512-407-2739
esurtees@drtx.org
DRTx Launches Vaccine Hotline to Increase Access for Texans with Disabilities
Vaccine Access Navigators Available to Connect Individuals with Vaccines, Information
AUSTIN—Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) recently launched the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline to ensure vaccines are accessible to Texans with disabilities.
Some people with disabilities face barriers to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Others may not have internet access or may not use technology, so they can’t sign up to get the vaccine or determine where to go to get it. Some individuals may not have access to transportation, so they can’t get to a vaccine site even if they made an appointment ahead of time.
DRTx’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline aims to help people with disabilities by increasing access to the vaccine and by providing information about it. When individuals call the hotline, a Vaccine Access Navigator will help them sign up to get the vaccine, arrange transportation options, remedy barriers preventing individuals from receiving the vaccine and answer any vaccine-related questions a caller might have.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline phone number is 1-800-880-8401. The hotline is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time. Vaccine Access Navigators who speak English and Spanish are available. Also, in addition to the hotline, individuals can connect with a Vaccine Access Navigator by emailing vaccine@drtx.org or vacuna@drtx.org.
The hotline is part of DRTx’s Vaccine Access Program, which also includes setting up vaccine clinics and coordinating in-home vaccine visits. The initiative is part of the Texas Partners for Inclusive Access, a collaboration among Texans with disabilities, state leaders, and community organizations to ensure Texas meets the unique needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.
The Vaccine Access Program is funded by a grant from the Administration for Community Living and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are accessible to individuals with disabilities.