Vaccination of people with visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness - information for municipalities and vaccination personnel
Loss of sight can lead to challenges related to communication, access to information and mobility. Vaccination must therefore be organised so that people with combined visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness can receive the corona vaccine in a way that meets their needs.
Both the preparation for the vaccination, the actual implementation and the necessary information must be facilitated for people with combined visual and hearing impairment / deafblindness.
Preparation
- It is important that contact is made with the person with combined visual and hearing impairment/deafblindness in order to notify them of the time for vaccination. If the municipality is unable to make contact by phone or SMS, the GP and/or the National Advisory Service on Deafblindness must be contacted to find alternative solutions. See contact information further down.
- It is important that the patient is informed about the actual vaccination day. Extra time should be set aside for immunisation for patients who need to be accompanied. This is because they need good descriptions along the way.
- To ensure good information about the vaccination, we recommend the use of an interpreter/escort service from the NAV Assistive Technology Centre. The person who is to be vaccinated orders the interpreter/companion themselves. If possible, users of NAV's interpreter/escort service should be offered vaccination.
in the home. For patients who only need a visual sign language interpreter, we recommend a photo interpreter, which is the visual equivalent of a telephone interpreter.
Realisation
- Remember that the patient is unfamiliar with their surroundings and needs descriptions related to the vaccination situation.
- In the event of hearing impairment, ensure that communication and listening conditions are satisfactory. Make sure that the patient has understood the necessary instructions.
- Patients need good descriptions of what happens during the vaccination process.
- Remember to provide clear information about the timing of any second dose.
- Ensure that the patient has received and understood information about possible side effects of the vaccine and how to report them.
This information can be downloaded here: Corona vaccine, information for vaccination personnel
Contact information for questions:
Regional centre for the deafblind
The university hospital
Northern Norway HF
Tel: 77 75 58 30
Email: RegionsenteretDB@unn.no
Region: Troms and Finnmark, Nordland
and Svalbard
Statped, professional unit for
combined vision and hearing loss
and deafblindness, Bergen
Tel: 02196
E-mail: post@statped.no
Region: Møre og Romsdal,
Western Norway and Rogaland
Statped, professional unit for
combined vision and hearing loss
and deafblindness, Oslo
Tel: 02196
E-mail: post@statped.no
Region: Trøndelag, Innlandet,
Oslo, parts of Viken
Signo school and
centre of excellence
Tel: 33 43 86 00
E-mail: ssk@signo.no
Region: Agder, Vestfold and Telemark,
parts of Viken
www.dovblindhet.no
E-mail: dovblindhet@unn.no
Telephone: 77 75 58 30