Ottawa virtual event to address COVID-19 vaccine anxieties among people with disabilities

COVID-19 has brought with it uncertainty, especially for those living with disabilities and chronic illnesses who aren’t sure where they fit in to the equation.

So, the Ottawa Disability Coalition along with Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Accessibility Office have come together to address those concerns and give guidance by hosting a virtual talk Tuesday morning.

“We are not talking about medical advice,” Jerry Fiori, chair of the Ottawa Disability Coalition, explained. “We are talking more about the logistics around the vaccinations. We want everyone to be well informed as to what’s going on.”

The event, Fiori added, will discuss what it means being vaccinated and how it will work for people with disabilities — basically, giving those within that group a walk-through of what to expect.

It will also include information on how to book appointments and how to get to and from appointments (like services available to them).

For example, will paramedics be at the clinics? Is there a safe waiting area for people with disabilities?

“This talk might have been better to have had earlier but so many things have changed over the last two weeks,” Fiori explained, adding that now is good timing as Ottawa heads into phase two of its vaccination plan. “We’re probably going to have to do another update down the road because there are so many changes that keep happening.”

Over the last month, for example, Fiori said the coalition has been providing input to the accessibility office using the feedback from its members when it comes to properly coordinating a vaccination appointment with their Para Transpo transportation.

Fiori said the coalition has been there to remind OPH and accessibility office, as they’re going ahead with their plans for coordinating anything COVID related, to consider persons with disabilities.

This meeting could be the opportunity to address this concern and others like it.

This session will take place on Zoom and will only be provided in English.

If there is a question in French, however, then someone will be on hand to answer those questions, Fiori said.

“There’s a lot of anxiety out there,” Fiori said. “But when you have a disability, you’re more anxious.”

Those interested in attending will need to register beforehand on the City of Ottawa website. Questions can be submitted in advance.