Local veterans help peers get vaccinated

Currently in New York, those over 65 years of age are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine — a population that includes many of Long Island’s older veterans.

For Jewish War Veterans Post 652 Commander Gary Glick, who is also the second vice commander of the North Bellmore American Legion Post 1749, keeping veterans connected throughout the pandemic has been hard enough. The groups only started meeting again at the end of last year, and membership is “dwindling,” Glick said.

With the vaccine now available, Glick and other veteran leaders are working to connect senior veterans with the right resources to get their shot. “Quite a few are homebound,” Glick said, “so many have no clue what’s going on.”

Glick outreaches as often as he can. Recently, he joined a virtual Holocaust remembrance group and introduced himself as the commander of the JWV to let other veterans know about the resources they may be missing out on. Two veterans spoke up — one a 97-year-old — who had never been formally included in local veteran administration systems, Glick said, as they had never had the need to visit a V.A. hospital.

Those two veterans are now on track to receive their vaccine.

Glick has since connected with more World War II veterans to share information on how to get vaccinated. “There are many more like them that do not know what to do,” he explained. “A lot of these guys can’t drive — they just can’t — and it’s not easy for the V.A. to go out to their homes.”

Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, expressed the same concern for homebound veterans and elderly residents who may not have the technical know-how to navigate government-run websites, which is required to make an appointment to get the vaccine.

“My main concern are the veterans,” Esposito said. “We have to start with the weakest first.”

Pop-up vaccination sites, such as one that hosted by Nassau County on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Union Baptist Church in Hempstead, could be vital to hard-to-reach veterans and seniors. Such sites are pending on more vaccine doses, according to County Executive Laura Curran.

Transport services to such sites are available through the V.A., which can be reached at (516) 572-6565.

Appointments for vaccinations at state-run facilities should be made at https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/. Appointments are scarce and will continue to open as more vaccine doses enter the state.

The Northport V.A. Medical Center is also administering vaccines to veterans. Esposito recommends calling (631) 261-4400 ext. 2659 or 2660 to enroll.