Español | Tiếng Việt
Expanding Equity in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Orange County Opens ADA Drive-Thru Lanes at the Disneyland Super POD Site
Yesterday, March 8th, the Disneyland Vaccine Super Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site reopened as a drive-thru site with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) lanes to allow for individuals to receive in-car vaccinations.
“We’re grateful that our local disabilities rights advocates have engaged in conversations with us to help us improve our POD sites,” said Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee. “My office has met with the Dayle McIntosh Center and discussed many of the areas in which we could improve ADA-access, and I’m pleased that the County has swiftly responded to their requests.”
The Disneyland POD site was reconfigured from a walk-up to a drive-thru site to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. In late January, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Pilot Program, introduced by Chairman Andrew Do and Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee to improve direct access to vaccinations for CalOptima members who live in the hardest-hit communities by the pandemic. In alignment with the program, the Orange County Health Care Agency continues to expand the equity approach and target communities with disabilities.
“The County is constantly looking for ways to improve our vaccine distribution efforts,” said Chairman Andrew Do. “Adding drive-thru capabilities to our Disneyland POD site ensures increased accessibility for those living with disabilities. From the start, equity has been the guiding principle of our approach to getting Orange County vaccinated, this modification to our process was done with equity top of mind.”
Improving ADA-access at POD Sites:
The Health Care Agency has met with local disabilities rights agencies, such as the Dayle McIntosh Center, the Regional Center, and the State Council on Developmental Disability, to strategize and ensure responsiveness in our vaccine strategies, including improving access at the POD sites by:
1. Providing a method for individuals to indicate they have a disability and what accommodations they will need when registering for vaccine appointments.
2. Making sure that all facilities where PODs are conducted are accessible.
3. Identifying staff/volunteers and provide basic disability etiquette training for individuals who can provide disability support at all or specific sites in the County.
“We are happy to be working with the County to make sure accessibility and support are being provided for the aging community and people with disabilities”, said Larry Wanger, Executive Director of the Dayle McIntosh Center.
The Disneyland site will have less capacity than other county vaccination sites, dispensing 2,000 vaccinations per day of the Moderna vaccine. The site is intended to serve individuals who require an ADA-accessible option, with Othena appointments, and who are displaying a Disabled Person vehicle placard or license plates.
Individuals who do not have an ADA license plate or a placard will not be turned away from the Disneyland site; however, people who are able to access a walk-up site are strongly encouraged to do so.
Othena will soon be updated to allow people to see which County POD sites offer a drive-thru option for people requesting accessibility access. To schedule an appointment at an ADA accessible POD-site, an individual can check a box to indicate that ADA access is required, which serves as “self-attestation.”
In addition to the Disneyland site, the County of Orange operates two other Super PODs, one at the Anaheim Convention Center and another at Soka University. The Super PODs are operating from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 7 days a week. The Santa Ana College POD site reopened on March 3 to vaccinate those hardest-hit and underserved communities in targeted zip codes within Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Anaheim and will operate Wednesday through Sunday.
New POD sites and opportunities will open dependent on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines provided to the County. Additional POD sites, including Super POD sites, will open in a phased approach, ensuring access to residents in every area of the County.
For More Information
Vaccinations dispensed at County Super PODs are currently available to Orange County residents and those who work in Orange County who are eligible under Phase 1A, all tiers, and Phase 1B, including educators, food service workers, grocery, and agriculture workers, child care providers, and Emergency services.
Eligible individuals with an appointment must present identification and proof of eligibility at the Super POD site to receive a vaccine.
To view a list of those who are eligible to receive a vaccine, visit the Orange County Health Care Agency website https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/phased-approach-vaccine-distribution.
For questions related to COVID-19, visit http://www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus, or follow the HCA on Facebook (@ochealthinfo) and Twitter (@ochealth).
*No Walk-Ups will be accepted at POD vaccination sites. People are encouraged to register through Othena and are required to have an appointment.*
***
Orange County Chairman Andrew Do represents the First District communities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, and Midway City. One of the first officials in the state to propose a face covering mandate, Chairman Andrew Do is advocating for science-based COVID-19 policies. In addition to health and safety-based COVID-19 response planning, he has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.
Orange County Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee represents the Fourth District, which includes the cities of Fullerton, La Habra, Brea, Placentia, and portions of Anaheim and Buena Park. In his first term, Vice Chairman Chaffee has combatted homelessness by supporting the creation of and allocating funding to the Buena Park and Placentia Navigation Centers and has spurred economic development by reinvesting $14.5 million to small businesses in the Fourth District.
