Many healthcare workers across Florida said they were not getting adequate access to the COVID-19 vaccine, which they believe is against Governor Ron DeSantis’ order. The order states that people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the first distribution phase are people aged 65 and over, residents of long-term care facilities, and employees and health workers who have direct patient contact. Health First Infusion, a West Palm Beach-based company with infusion nurses who give intravenous medication or nutrients to patients and other care services. Nursing director for Health First Infusion Randy Lundi said only two of the staff’s 28 nurses could have received the vaccine. “Our biggest concern right now is and our focus is on trying to find a way that we can prioritize our nurses who are direct patient carers and have contact with patients in line to get vaccinated,” said Lundi . ” That just makes sense e. “He said he had contacted government agencies and vaccination centers on a daily basis to request vaccinations for his employees, but has so far been unsuccessful.” We will fight for them. We’re going to make our voices heard, and I can’t think of a more legitimate group of people to take turns than each and every home care provider who sees COVID-positive patients and goes to another patient right after that who isn’t COVID -positive, “said Lundi.” If anyone can explain to me that someone else would be more qualified to get a vaccine at this point, I’d love to have this conversation. “WPBF 25 News also spoke to Shayna Adaniel, Director of Customer Service for BrightStar Care in Delray Beach, on the subject:” We are classified in the Executive Order. We’re just not recognized as such, ”said Adaniel. Adaniel said some of her staff had been turned away at vaccination sites, others could not have received the vaccine through hospital systems. “From the beginning, home health has kind of sunk into that blind spot,” she said. “I think it’s not possible becoming more intimate than giving someone a bath or helping someone out of a chair. At the governor’s own orders, home health workers should qualify for the vaccine. “Florida Home Care Association executive director Bobby Lolley also discussed this issue when he addressed the Senate Health Policy Committee earlier this month, but they will be different “said Lolley. Health officials said this problem puts workers at risk.” These health workers risk their lives just like a nurse who goes on her shift in the hospital, “Adaniel said.” As well as health workers in hospitals and Long-term care facilities cannot be vaccinated, it is truly unacceptable that our home nurses and certified nursing assistants and home health workers are not offered the same thing. “WPBF 25 News has notified the governor’s office, state health department and emergency management department of this situation. We have not received a response at this time.
, Fla. –
Many healthcare workers across Florida said they were not getting adequate access to the COVID-19 vaccine, which they believe speaks against it Executive Order from Governor Ron DeSantis.
The executive order states that people who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in the first distribution phase are people who are 65 years of age and older, residents of long-term care facilities as well as employees and health workers who have direct patient contact.
Health First Infusion, a West Palm Beach-based company that has infusion nurses who give patients intravenous medication or nutrients, among other things.
Nursing director for Health First Infusion Randy Lundi said only two of the staff’s 28 nurses could have received the vaccine.
“Our biggest concern right now, and our focus, is to find a way that we can prioritize our nurses who are direct patient carers and have contact with patients in order to get vaccinated,” said Lundi. It just makes sense. “
He said he has reached out to government agencies and vaccination centers daily to request vaccinations for his employees but has so far been unsuccessful.
“We’re going to fight for them. We’re going to make our voices heard, and I can’t think of a more legitimate group of people who should be next in line than any single home care provider who sees COVID- positive patients who go to another patient who is not COVID positive immediately afterwards, “Lundi said. “If someone can explain to me that someone else would be more qualified to get a vaccine at this point, I’d love to have this conversation.”
WPBF 25 News also spoke to BrightStar Care Customer Service Manager at Delray Beach, Shayna Adaniel, about this issue
“We’re classified in the Executive Order. We’re just not recognized as such,” Adaniel said.
Adaniel said some of her workers have been turned away at vaccination sites, while others cannot get the vaccine through hospital systems.
“From the beginning, home health has gotten into this blind spot,” she said. “I think there is no way to get more intimate than giving someone a bath or helping someone out of a chair. At the governor’s own orders, home health workers should qualify for the vaccine.”
Florida Home Care Association executive director Bobby Lolley also discussed the matter when speaking to the Senate Health Policy Committee earlier this month.
“Nurses or healthcare workers providing care in a patient’s home or community are no different from hospital health care nurses, but they are treated differently,” Lolley said.
Home health executives said this issue puts employees at risk.
“These health workers risk their lives just like a nurse who goes on her shift in the hospital,” Adaniel said. “Just like healthcare workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities are given the opportunity to be.” vaccinated, it is truly unacceptable that our home nurses and certified nursing assistants and home health workers are not offered the same thing. “
WPBF 25 News reached out to the governor’s office, the state health department and the emergency management department regarding this situation. We haven’t received a response at this point.
