Independent Perspective 1758 with Todd Vaarwerk on the Covid vaccination for those with disabilities

Host: Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Todd Vaarwerk, Chief Policy Officer of WNYIL. And I'm your host, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Todd.

Guest: Always a pleasure.

Host: And it's ours too, because you are a fount of knowledge on all kinds of subjects having to do with the Community and public action. And you're here because you're going to talk about WNYIL’s continued activity to encourage vaccination because even in what some people are calling the waning days of the COVID-19 pandemic, people can still benefit from getting prepared. What can you tell us about it?

Guest: Well, let's start by being honest. For the regular listeners, I am a person with a developmental disability. COVID was scary for all of us, but one of the things that we as people with disabilities have to realize is that we have conditions that may make COVID worse for us if we were to catch it. It's important to remember that it isn't just it wasn't just necessarily about whether or not you were in a nursing home.

For example, people with developmental disabilities were targeted to be first recipients of the COVID vaccination. And you know, this allies with a lot of hidden disabilities or hidden medical conditions. So, we want our consumers to live life to the fullest, and that means being around for as long as possible.

So, there's no way in the world that I would not recommend getting COVID vaccinated and keeping yourself boosted. Keeping yourself up to date with the current vaccine formulation. WNYIL is committed to that. And we want to be able to make sure that if you need information as to where to go, or how to get your insurance company to pay for it. Or even if you need a ride, we're going to help you be able to get vaccinated and stay vaccinated so that you can stay in the community and live your full inclusive life.

Host: Well, and that's certainly a noble gesture. Plus, as time goes by, I believe they're coming up with formulations that cover new variants of COVID.

Guest: As you said, we're moving from the pandemic phase into what they call the endemic phase and the endemic phase recognizes that a version of COVID is always going to be with us, just like a version of the flu is always with us. And by the way, we recommend that you get vaccinated for the flu as well. You should always be talking to your doctor about the things that are going to help you stay healthy.

Host: And as you point out, these are concerns that are of greater interest to people who have preexisting conditions that can make these sort of illnesses more significant to them.

Guest: Correct.

Host: Do you have any idea whether the things such as government support for the cost of vaccinations is likely to continue?

Guest: I believe that government support for the cost of vaccinations is going to continue for a while. We recognize that at the ending of the COVID emergency, they're going to stop supporting things like at home tests, right? You know the free at home test used to get in the mail, but you're still going to be able to get them. At your local drugstore and you're still going to be able to get tests when you need it, when your doctor prescribes it, at anywhere that you got COVID tests before. And I think that vaccines are going to remain something the government's going to support for a while just in the way that they promote all vaccines for health and wellness.

Host: And it's my understanding that even if you don't have the very newest iteration of the booster. Just getting something at all is better than nothing, right?

Guest: Right. We understand that this is a controversial topic for a lot of people, right, and you need to be able to make the decisions that are absolutely right for you because independent living is about freedom of choice. But we know for certain that people with pre-existing medical conditions can be more negatively affected by COVID infection than general members of the population. So, there's no way we can't recommend that you get vaccinated and boosted.

Host: Our time is up. How can people reach you to get more information?

Guest: They can always call my office 716-836-0822 my extension is 101. They can email me at tvaarwerk@wnyil.org

Or they can check out our Facebook page, because any information about what we do is probably going to go there first.

Host: Thanks so much for being with us Todd.

Guest: Always a pleasure.

Host: You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Todd Vaarwerk, Chief Policy Officer of WNYIL. And I've been your host, Ernie Churchwell.