PALM SPRINGS, Fla. — Local adult day care centers want to be included in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
At the very least, they want access to help vaccinate their senior citizens, but many of them feel they are left behind.
"I think we should have been first in line," said Jason Abdala, vice president of the Florida Adult Day Services Association. "They went out to nursing homes. Why weren't adult day care centers approached earlier?"
According to Adbala, adult day care centers across the state have not been included in COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans.
It is a sentiment echoed by Yoni Gonzalez. He oversees A Place for You Adult Day Care & Rehab Center located off S. Congress Avenue in Palm Springs.
“We are part of the long-term care spectrum. Why hasn't anyone reached out to us?" said Gonzalez. "It's frustrating because these members have to stay home, and we've seen their health deteriorate really quick."
Gonzalez said there are more than 350 adult day care centers throughout the state and have the capability of reaching more than 10,000 senior citizens and their families if they had access to the vaccine.
"We have the coordination of care at the center, which helps us mitigate for the state. We are trying to provide our services for the state to use our service in order to get more people vaccinated," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said they have sent out letters to Tallahassee since December but haven't gotten a response. However, they are still hopeful they will be included in the next rollout of the vaccine.
