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Need help with vaccination, boosters or testing?

Trained staff are standing by to help you find vaccine and testing locations, make appointments, order free at-home test kits, and connect to local services and supports if you need them to get vaccinated or tested. 

Both phone lines are staffed Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern). (Use this infographic to help spread the word about DIAL.) 

What's New (March 10 - April 5)

Here are the latest additions to this page. Sign up for ACL Updates to receive these and other updates via e-mail.

  • ACL's new fact sheet (available as a PDF or Word document) helps the aging and disability networks prepare for changes to Medicaid resulting from an eventual end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Posted April 5)

  • Americans with Medicare Part B, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, now have access to over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost. (Posted April 5)

  • Under new CDC guidance, people over the age of 50 and certain immunocompromised individuals are eligible for a second mRNA booster four months after their first booster. In addition, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months ago may now receive a second booster dose using an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. (Posted March 30)

  • CDC released an updated framework for community response to COVID-19. Based on current data and science, the framework recommends that community measures should focus on minimizing the impact of severe COVID-19, rather than on eliminating transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. Read a summary of the guidance and its impact on older adults and people with disabilities. (Posted March 14)

  • CDC has added disabilities, primary immunodeficiencies, and physical inactivity to its list of conditions that have been conclusively shown to put people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. CDC notes that people with disabilities are more likely to have chronic health conditions, live in congregate settings, and face more barriers to health care, all of which increase risk. Age remains the strongest risk factor for severe illness, and living in congregate settings also significantly increases risk. For people with underlying medical conditions, risk increases as the number of conditions increase. This science brief explains CDC's systematic review process. (Posted March 14)

  • On February 25, the Department of Education released a letter that outlines how the CDC’s updated masking guidelines apply to schools and early care settings and highlights guidance available for schools and parents on the rights of students with disabilities.

  • CDC now recommends consideration of an eight-week interval between the first and second mRNA COVID-19 shots for some people ages 12 years and older, particularly males who are between 12 and 39 years old. (Some studies have shown that the longer interval may make the vaccines more effective and further reduce the small risk of heart inflammation associated with the vaccines.)  It’s important to note that this new recommendation does not apply to everyone. For people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, adults age, 65 and older, and others who need rapid protection due to increased concern about community transmission or risk of severe disease, the CDC still recommends a shorter interval between the first and second dose (three weeks for the Pfizer vaccine and four weeks for Moderna).

  • Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 2 sets of 4 free at-⁠home COVID-19 tests. If you already ordered your first set, order a second today. (Posted March 10)

More recent additions

  • The Biden-Harris administration has announced key steps to help ensure that disabled individuals, regardless of where they live or the level of community transmission of the virus, have equitable access to COVID-19 testing, masks, and other critical mitigation strategies. (Posted February 25)

  • On February 15, CDC added disabilities, primary immunodeficiencies, and physical inactivity to its list of conditions that have been conclusively shown to put people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. CDC notes that people with disabilities are more likely to have chronic health conditions, live in congregate settings, and face more barriers to health care, all of which increase risk. Age remains the strongest risk factor for severe illness, and living in congregate settings also significantly increases risk. For people with underlying medical conditions, risk increases as the number of conditions increase. This science brief explains CDC's systematic review process. (Posted February 22.) 

  • In this joint letter, ACL and HRSA  announced an opportunity for the aging and disability networks to partner with community health centers to distribute at-home tests and N95 masks to people with disabilities and older adults.  To find a potential community health center partner, visit HRSA's Find A Health Center page.  You also can see a list of health centers currently participating in the mask program here. (Updated February 17)

  • On Feb. 11, CDC updated its guidance for additional vaccine doses and boosters for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Boosters are now recommended three months after completing the primary series of mRNA vaccines and two months after completing the initial series of the J&J/Janssen vaccine, and additional doses are now also recommended for people who got the J&J/Janssen vaccine initially. When to get your additional doses and boosters, and which vaccine you should receive, depends on what you got initially.  (Posted February 15)

  • New ACL fact sheet: Along with vaccinations and protective measures such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and hand-washing, at-home COVID-19 tests are an important tool for stopping the spread of the virus. There now are several no-cost ways to get tested and to obtain at-home test kits to have on hand in case they’re needed. For people who need to purchase additional tests, health insurance may cover the cost (and assistance may be available for those who do not have insurance). We’ve pulled together the basic details in this fact sheet. (Posted February 15)

  • A recording and materials are now available for ACL and the Consumer Voice's recent webinar, Accelerating boosters to support safe visitation for long-term care residents: watch on YouTube and download a list of resources presented during the webinar. (Posted February 9)

  • On Feb. 11, CDC updated its guidance for additional vaccine doses and boosters for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Boosters are now recommended three months after completing the primary series of mRNA vaccines and two months after completing the initial series of the J&J/Janssen vaccine, and additional doses are now also recommended for people who got the J&J/Janssen vaccine initially. When to get your additional doses and boosters, and which vaccine you should receive, depends on what you got initially.  (Posted February 15)

  • New ACL fact sheet: Along with vaccinations and protective measures such as wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and hand-washing, at-home COVID-19 tests are an important tool for stopping the spread of the virus. There now are several no-cost ways to get tested and to obtain at-home test kits to have on hand in case they’re needed. For people who need to purchase additional tests, health insurance may cover the cost (and assistance may be available for those who do not have insurance). We’ve pulled together the basic details in this fact sheet. (Posted February 15)

  • A recording and materials are now available for ACL and the Consumer Voice's recent webinar, Accelerating boosters to support safe visitation for long-term care residents: watch on YouTube and download a list of resources presented during the webinar. (Posted February 9)

  • On Feb. 4, the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued new guidance to health care providers on civil rights protections for people with disabilities. The guidance, from the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights, makes clear that in light of the continuing public health emergency -- when resources can be scarce -- it is vital that individuals with disabilities are not prevented from receiving needed health care benefits and services as such actions violate federal civil rights laws. (Posted February 4)

  • CMS announced that Medicare will begin covering the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests this spring. (Posted February 3)

  • The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has developed a resource, Getting the Care You Need: A Guide for People with Disabilities, which describes the rights of people with disabilities when seeking medical care and offers tips for working with providers. (Posted February 1)

Resources for people with COVID-related disabilities

On July 26, the White House published this comprehensive package of resources for people with disabilities, including people with COVID-related disabilities. We've created a page for these and other resources for people with COVID-related disabilities -- we'll add to it as more resources are available.
 

For Older Adults, People with Disabilities, Families, and Caregivers

  • Vaccine info
  • Staying safe
  • Your rights

Click here to learn more

Find the latest vaccine-related resources

Find resources on "Long COVID"

For the Aging and Disability Networks

  • ACL Program Guidance
  • Promising Practices: Innovative approaches that may work in your community
  • Guidance from other federal programs

Find more resources here

Find a listing of upcoming and archived webinars

Find resources on promoting vaccinations and boosters

Ensuring Equity and Inclusion

Resources for

  • State and local COVID-19 response planners
  • Healthcare professionals
  • Educators
  • Businesses
  • others who need to understand the needs and issues of older adults and people with disabilities

Click here to find more helpful tips


National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

The National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness provides detailed information about the seven goals of Biden Administration's coordinated pandemic response. The 198-page strategy document begins with an overview of the goals, followed by details on a variety of topics, many of which intersect the core missions of the aging and disability networks. Among the topics covered are home and community based services, vaccination communication, impact on at-risk groups, equitable access to PPE, and community-based, multi-sector efforts to align health and social interventions. The strategy reflects the White House's priorities for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Follow your state's guidance

Decisions about community measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as vaccine prioritization and distribution, will be made by local and state officials, The links in this section will connect you to some state resources.

Links to state resources

Last modified on 04/08/2022


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