During the recent community conversation on transportation needs, paratransit services and resources for those with disabilities and the elderly surfaced as a key area of need for Washington. The King County Mobility Coalition developed a COVID-19 vaccine transportation needs memo, outlining the unique transportation barriers for those seeking COVID-19 vaccination—especially older adults and people with disabilities. Below is a summary of existing resources that may address community members’ transportation needs.
Homebound
Resources are available for individuals who would like to get the COVID-19 vaccinebut are unable to leave their homes. If you or someone you know is homebound, the Department of Health (DOH) can help! Fill out this home-based vaccination form, and DOH will connect you with a mobile vaccine resource in your area.
Apple Health (Medicaid) Transportation Brokers
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) offers non-emergency transportation coverage for eligible clients. Depending on the need, regional transportation brokers can help individuals across Washington get to vaccination or other medical appointments through public transit, gas vouchers, mileage reimbursement, taxis, ferries, or wheelchair vans and accessible vehicles. To identify the transportation broker assigned to your area, consult this transportation broker map or locate your county on the HCA website. Please note that the Hopelink resource on the transportation broker map serving King and Snohomish County is no longer active. Those seeking transportation assistance in these counties can visit www.FindARide.org. More information about each broker can be found in the DOH Vaccine Transportation Resources document under “Local and Region-Specific Resources.”
Lyft
Individuals seeking transportation to and from a vaccine appointment can request a free or discounted ride through LyftUp, a Lyft program aiming to increase access to vaccinations. LyftUp allows individuals to send or receive a Lyft ride and provides community grants to reduce transportation barriers. Lyft offers a variety of accessibility options for riders who need ride-related accommodations.
Regionally Specific Resources
Communities throughout Washington state have developed a variety of regionally specific transportation resources to meet their unique needs. Explore the DOH Vaccine Transportation Resources document to discover transportation resources available in your area. As always, if you know of additional transportation resources not listed here, please reach out to a DH team member. We will aim to share new resources widely.
Best Practices for Vaccination Sites
In addition to securing accessible vaccine-related transportation, vaccine sites must also be accessible for all. If your organization is planning a vaccination event, consider consulting this access checklist for vaccination sites developed by the Center for Independence.