In another high-risk group — home care workers — only a third have been vaccinated, estimated Adam Glickman, secretary-treasurer of SEIU 775, a union representing 45,000 Washington home care workers.
“There’s a huge gap between those who want to and are willing to get vaccinated and those who are able,” Glickman said of these workers, who often care for the sick and elderly and have been eligible for vaccines from the start.
Many don’t speak English or have limited access to the internet, and “there’s not, as far as we can tell, good systems in place for limited English speakers to actually access vaccines and communicate with vaccine providers and schedule appointments,” Glickman said.
The state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) didn’t contact these workers about vaccinations until the week of Jan. 11, offering letters to prove eligibility. Letters in languages other than English were made available Jan. 15.
Read more at The Seattle Times.