In response to the documented hesitancy of Alabamians regarding COVID-19 vaccines, the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) is partnering with local Alabama Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and various disability organizations on a new statewide marketing campaign for older adults and people with disabilities.
“The Alabama Department of Senior Services is committed to expanding access to COVID-19 vaccines,” said Commissioner Jean Brown. “Through this new marketing campaign, ADSS is making it easy for Alabamians to connect with a live, local individual who can help provide information and resources specific to their needs. We are extremely proud to be partnering with organizations in the disability community and look forward to continuing this relationship on future projects.”
Through the already-established ADSS 24-hour hotline (1-800-AGELINE), Alabamians will be directed to a local individual who will help find vaccination locations in their communities, assist callers with making vaccination appointments, and connect callers to local services – such as accessible transportation – to overcome barriers to vaccinations. The hotline will work to address questions or concerns about the vaccines.
The list of specific partners for this campaign includes: Alabama’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), Centers for Independent Living (CILs), the Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD), the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP), and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) to help combat vaccine hesitancy so older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers can be protected.
The marketing campaign and resources are funded through a new grant from the Administration on Community Living (ACL). These funds are to be used to help provide critical services to overcome barriers that are preventing millions of those most at risk for serious illness and death from COVID-19 from receiving vaccines.
Please contact the Alabama Department of Senior Services at 1-800-243-5463 if you have questions.
