![]() Andrew Cuomo has continued to express concern about low-income and minority communities being overlooked by the vaccine process. “We urge everyone to please be patient,” she added. She included information about the newly created online Finger Lakes Vaccine Hub. “I value my relationship greatly with our donors and I do not want to disappoint them,” Kopin wrote, but told Farrell that donors would have to use the same resources as the general public in trying to make appointments. 26 email from Kopin to Tom Farrell, the university’s head of fundraising, and Anderson’s boss. This change in tone is reflected in a Jan. Partner added that fundraising staff have been told in subsequent communications that donors should not be told they can move to the front of the vaccine line. At that moment in time, nobody knew how vaccination would roll out.” ![]() ![]() Although some were donors, Partner said that was not pertinent to their success in getting through the line.Īsked why the chief fundraiser for URMC would tell staff about prioritizing donors if the practice is not allowed at the health system, Partner said: “I don’t really have an answer for that. Partner said that the Executive Health patients were alerted to a vaccine opportunity along with eligible members of the public, and some were fortunate enough to get registered that week. That is what Kellie’s email said, and it is just wrong.” Anyone who saw (Anderson’s) email and didn’t understand what happened would think that donors were prioritized. But no one received priority scheduling because they were a donor. Board members are all donors at some level. Partner said that of the 26 people vaccinated from the Executive Health Program, “It’s certain that some of the people vaccinated were donors. URMC spokesperson Chip Partner told WXXI News that Anderson’s email was made in error, and that the medical center does not offer special vaccine opportunities to donors. URMC has not confirmed how many donors were vaccinated that week. That Thursday and Friday, 26 patients from the Executive Health program received their shots at URMC. “Laurie’s team has a limited supply of vaccine and she already has a list of Executive Health clients and high level donors she will be vaccinating, many of whom she has already contacted,” the email read. The email explained that the special vaccine administration would be overseen by Laurie Kopin, a senior nurse practitioner who was described as overseeing URMC’s Special Patient Services. She warned that some donors might not make the cut. One of the acceptable reasons was that they were a “major donor.” In order to be considered, donors had to prove they were eligible and explain why they should get special attention. Some donors would receive the vaccines later that week.Īnderson clarified that only donors eligible for the vaccine - such as those who are 65 or older - would be considered for the upcoming clinic. ![]() It went on to instruct staff not to reach out to donors, but to field requests and pass them along. “Some of you may have received emails or phone calls from donors who would like to receive a COVID vaccine at URMC,” Anderson’s message began. This would involve community outreach through trusted local figureheads, such as faith leaders.The University of Rochester Medical Center’s chief fundraiser told staff in an email that “major donors” to the hospital system who asked for vaccines could be given special consideration and leapfrog the inoculation queue by being shunted into what she called a “special patient services vaccine clinic.”Ī URMC spokesperson said the email was sent in error.The email from Kellie Anderson to her staff, dated Jan. Similar communication systems would also be necessary in other communities across the country with low vaccination numbers.īesides prioritising appointments, communities would need to make sure all residents “have the information that they need to even make a decision” about receiving a vaccine, Ms Privor-Dumm said. The phone line contacts seniors in the state to assist them in accessing a Covid-19 vaccine. “In Maryland, they have a phone line for older adults called Maryland Access Point.” “It’s really crucial that there are alternative ways to get the word out,” Ms Privor-Dumm said, who currently acts as an adviser for Maryland’s vaccination campaign. The instance of one user finding a loophole was rare, but what wasn’t rare were residents – such as the elderly and those living in low-income communities – disproportionately being unable to access appointments through digital systems over other population groups, a problem local governments and hospital systems would need to prioritise. Other states have also turned to a digital system for people to make appointments.
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