Ball Gets Rolling for Cape Seniors [PHIL-OSOPHY]

A pat on the back to the Cape Cod COVID-19 Response Task Force for reaching out and coming together with about 50,000 seniors, age 65 years and older, ahead of the vaccine rollout.

In other words, they are taking things into their own local hands and putting together provisions for a robocall briefing today that will lay out all the information the seniors need before getting vaccinated. The conferencing service will call the home phone numbers of the senior group, if they wish to join. The call will be muted to the group, on a listen-in basis only.

Seniors have found it increasingly difficult to make an appointment. The government's position is to tell the old-timers to go online and cyber connect to the information. It's typical government presumption that most all golden agers have a computer. I'm betting the opposite is more accurate.

Those who listen in to this instructive briefing will be told about the what, where and when of Barnstable County's COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Clear, straightforward communication is a beautiful thing, isn't it? My hope is that other cities and towns jump on the bandwagon. Laying the groundwork and outlining the plans in plain-spoken lingo is the kind of quarterbacking that's hard to find nowadays.

For people who'd like to phone in on their own, just call 833-491-0326 at 5:30 p.m. this afternoon. It's scheduled to last about 45 minutes.

In general, the younger powers that be who run the government programs forget that the over-65 population has extensive experience in solving problems. We are seeing that the rollout has been chaotic because there wasn't enough preparation and plan of action.

The Cape Cod COVID-19 Response Task Force should take a bow and other municipalities should take notice.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.