AUSTIN, TX – Getting access to vaccines during coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for many, but Austinites who are blind or visually impaired say acquiring COVID-19 vaccines for themselves has been especially difficult.
Earlier this month, Walgreens partnered with organizations such as the local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind and Austin Lighthouse for the Blind to host a vaccination event for hundreds of people who are blind or visually impaired.
But those who participated in the event, though grateful to finally get a dose of the vaccine, say more needs to be done by city officials and leaders to increase access to people in the city who are blind or visually impaired.
Sharon Cohan, who does not have any health conditions that affect her vision, spearheaded efforts to organize the event in early April. She said she first found out about the need and the lack of access to the blind and visually impaired community while she was trying to help people who are elderly sign up and register for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cohan created a Google document for people to write down their names if they were having trouble getting a COVID-19 vaccine. One of the people who signed up alerted Cohan to the fact that they were visually impaired and had friends with similar impairments who also had difficulty with vaccine registration.
