BOCA RATON — Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Florida-based organization helping kids and young adults with special needs excel in their communities, announced on March 24 it has secured a partnership to help individuals with special needs gain quicker access to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine for COVID-19.

In response to its community awareness push to expedite the process of gaining access to the COVID-19 vaccination for individuals with developmental or learning disorders, Unicorn Children’s Foundation is partnering with the Coalition for Independent Living Options, Inc., Florida Department of Health (DOH), and Smart for Life to assist any family in need of a doctor to sign an eligibility form.

Eligibility:

1. Any Palm Beach County resident 50 and older (Adjacent counties are also eligible like Indian River through Broward)

2. Anyone 16-50 who gets the vulnerability form signed by a doctor. The organization especially wants to help people with disabilities and serious illnesses.

Vaccinations are scheduled to be administered March 29 to April 5, and a second round of eligible vaccinations is also being planned for a future date. The Florida Department of Health will be administering the vaccinations, and the agency sponsoring the vaccinations is The Coalition of Independent Living Options in partnership with the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, The Community Health Center and the Feed the Hungry Pantry of Palm Beach County.

Drive-thru vaccinations will be administered at the United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, 900 Brandywine Road, West Palm Beach, 33409 under a large white tent. Interested participants can download the Vulnerability Form at https://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/, and for more information please contact info@unicornchildrensfoundation.org or call 561-620-9377.

About the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine

According to a press release from Johnson and Johnson1, the vaccine candidate was 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease across all regions studied, 28 days after vaccination in all adults 18 years and older. Efficacy against severe disease increased over time with no cases in vaccinated participants reported after day 49.

The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine candidate demonstrated complete protection against COVID-related hospitalization and death, 28 days post-vaccination. There was a clear effect of the vaccine on COVID-19 cases requiring medical intervention (hospitalization, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)), with no reported cases among participants who had received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, 28 days post-vaccination.

About Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Unicorn Children’s Foundation is a 26-year-old international non-profit organization dedicated to creating cradle to career pathways for kids and young adults with developmental or learning disorders and helping their families navigate the complex journey. We connect families to resources, advocate for inclusive opportunities, respect differences, empower individuals and support success by providing education, awareness and funding opportunities to organizations for special needs children to help them excel in the community. We all can create a positive environment for children with ADHD, autism, bipolar, dyslexia, and other learning disorders while they learn. To learn more about the Unicorn Children’s Foundation visit http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.