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COMPASSION AND CARING OVERCOME COVID VACCINE CHAOS Branch archivist Orysia Zinych at her desk listening to a fellow Soyuzianka while pre- registering her for the COVID vaccine. Patricia Zalisko , English-Language Press Secretary Branch 56, North Port, FL THE SIX VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THIS PROJECT A SUCCESS ... Former branch president Ann Marie Susla registering a branch member on Sarasota County’s vaccine registration website. Pat Zalisko speaking with another branch member about vaccine registration on the Florida website. Branch treasurer Bohdana Puzyk registering a branch member on the Sarasota County vaccine website. Hospitality chair Ksenia Kuzmych reaching out on her tablet to pre-register a branch member. Chaos seemed to prevail in Florida when the COVID vaccine first became available. As in many other states, finding a vaccine proved to be difficult even for adults with good computer skills and a cell phone; for those who didn’t have an email address or computer, or who faced a language barrier, it was nearly impossible. They were effectively shut out. Initially, each county’s local Florida Department of Health office was allowed to determine with county officials how it would vaccinate its qualified population. Each county’s efforts were different. Some tried a first-come, first-served approach, resulting in long lines of seniors waiting overnight at designated vaccination sites. Some allowed tourists from other states and countries to be vaccinated. The myriad ways of trying to secure a vaccine proved confusing for those willing and able to brave a system that frequently overbooked appointments or ran out of vaccines. In early February, Florida introduced a state-wide online pre-registration system and began requiring proof of Florida residency, putting a stop to those booking “vaccination vacations.” Under the new system, those who possessed at least part-time Florida residency and qualified under CDC guidelines (front-line health care workers and those 65 and older) could pre-register in any county. However, this system required access to technology. Complicating matters further, some southwest Florida counties still hadn’t adopted the state-wide system, opting instead to use their own often confusing registration systems. Learning of the difficulties that many UNWLA members were facing, several Branch 56 members, with the blessing of branch president Alexandra Popel, offered to help. The challenges varied: Some members didn’t have a family member or partner who knew their basic information, like their date of birth (necessary to register for the vaccine). Others were fluent in Ukrainian, but not English. Approximately twenty-five Branch 56 members – ab out 25% of our full-time membership – did not have an email address, cell phone, or device that could accept text messages, which are used to notify registrants of available vaccination appointments. The common denominator is that these were all our longtime friends and fellow “Soyuzianky.” One of the chief missions of the UNWLA is fostering humanitarian efforts in the Ukrainian population, in the United States and abroad. We were simply fulfilling that mission for our own members. Our six volunteers reached out to these members, and to others that they personally knew of, to help them with the registration process. When needed, they offered their own email addresses and cell phone numbers to provide the members with a notification mechanism. Often, they also pre- registered the member’s spouse or partner. Our volunteers also provided information about additional resources, such as free rides to vaccine sites through Lyft, Uber, or county transportation systems. All offers of assistance were greatly appreciated, and Florida counties are now contacting these members to confirm their COVID vaccination appointments. Our Life | Наше життя March | Березень 2021 6 Social Program chair Ksenia Rakowsky reaching out to branch members to help with pre-registration. BRANCH NEWS
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