Mobile vaccine teams received like heroes in King County adult homes

KING COUNTY, Wash. — Like countless other vulnerable seniors, Bonnie Atkins hasn’t left her Adult Family Home since March 11, 2000. She looked at the Shoreline firefighters and paramedics who brought the COVID-19 vaccine to her as if they were superheroes.

“This is great,” she said, with the promise of being able to enjoy her freedom again. “I’m hoping to find a cafe like Burger King or McDonalds open so I can go out and have a good meal. Something different!”

Thousands of seniors and disabled adults like Atkins who cannot leave home are now the targets for Mobile Vaccination Teams of paramedics and firefighters from across King County, who are training to reach the highest-risk adults — many of who cannot move — and have been shut in for eleven months.

Eight teams in King County are bringing vaccine to staff and residents of Adult Family Homes, and vulnerable older adults living in low-income senior housing and permanent supportive housing. So far, there are eight teams working in King County, with more to come. There are 815 Adult Family Homes to reach, and many of those have six residents.

“Normally we’re going on calls on the worst day of people’s lives,” said Shoreline paramedic Gabe DeBay. “Right now it’s pretty neat, because we’re getting there and people are smiling and happy to see us. We don’t get that every day in this profession.”

Rachael Njuguna came from Kenya to visit family, and after the pandemic, her family has cared for her inside a Shoreline Adult Family Home since March.

“Because we can’t walk, it is very good because they have come for us,” said Njuguna, who spoke for the group. “One day, you know you’ll be old like us.”

She also spoke for those craving company and safety. She gave the teams a blessing.

“Wherever you go, God’s hand will be on you,” she said. “Every one of you.”

“Once we get vaccinated ... people can come and see their loved ones. So this is a great blessing,” said Grace Njoki Gitome, a nurse-in-training who runs a home.

“The more people we get vaccinated, the faster we get back to normal,” paramedic Gabe DeBay added.

Cox Media Group