Bay Area's homebound senior patients, caregivers struggle to access vaccines

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- As counties move forward on widening vaccine eligibility, many elderly homebound patients have been unable to receive a dose despite being eligible due to their age.

That's according to Dr. Carla Perissinotto, the Associate Chief of Geriatric Clinical Programs at UCSF.

She has about 200 patients who are unable to leave their homes due to their medical conditions. None of them have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

"Every week we keep getting told, 'no, there's not enough vaccines.' Our patients have just been devastated because we've been telling them it's coming," said Perissinotto.

RELATED: California vaccine mishap: 25-year-old fitness instructors get vaccinated as 'healthcare workers'

She said when she does get doses of the vaccine, her team is ready for the complicated process of thawing the vials and rapidly distributing the doses throughout the city in her patient's homes.

"My colleagues and I put together a protocol and really mapped out the details of how do we actually implement this to have it done at home from the time of pick up to how many patients we can have each day," she said.

She also said many of her patients have informal family caregivers who are not licensed medical professionals, yet provide necessary care.

Under California's eligibility guidelines, caregivers are eligible for a vaccine though different counties require different types of proof.

Having trouble loading the tracker above? Click here to open it in a new window.

VACCINE TRACKER: How California is doing, when you can get a coronavirus vaccine

In San Francisco, caregivers can fill out an attestation form, detailing their position.

Perissinotto some counties also require a physician's note, though she's known some caregivers who have had trouble with the process.

"I've had many physicians be asked by their patients to write letters explaining 'I'm the caregiver for X person that's older and essentially I'm a healthcare worker and they've gone to vaccination sites and been declined and turned down."

She says she hopes she might be able to get doses for the caregivers as well as her patients.

"What would make the most sense is vaccinate the caregivers alongside the patients," she said.

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• How to register for COVID-19 vaccine in every Bay Area county


• Map: CA counties that can, can't reopen under new rules


• VIDEO: When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine? We explain who goes 1st


• Updated number of COVID-19 deaths, cases in Bay Area


• Map shows everywhere you can get a COVID-19 test in the Bay Area


• How are Chinatown businesses surviving? Here's what we found


• From COVID-19 to Black Lives Matter, these 13 people defined the Bay Area in 2020


• COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during pandemic


• California EDD: The most commonly asked questions we get about unemployment and PUA



• How to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and coronavirus symptoms


• Here's which mask is better to protect from COVID-19


• First COVID-19 vaccine volunteers in US describe experience as Bay Area launches vaccine trials


• Coronavirus origin: Where did COVID-19 come from?


• What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test?


• What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made?


• What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily?


• Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19


• Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area


• Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic