Volunteer Group of 'Vaccine Angels' Help Each Other Find Shots

LONG ISLAND, NY —The hunt for coronavirus vaccines is still ongoing for many Long Islanders, and checking different websites, staying updated with changing guidelines and sitting in virtual waiting rooms has become a time-consuming effort for many. One Facebook group is using the power of crowdsourcing to help those trying to find appointments for themselves or family members.

Joel Leyden created the Facebook group, New York / Connecticut Vaccine Hunters and Angels, in Feburary and it's grown to 13K members. Leyden is a Long Island native who now lives in Connecticut and specializes in crisis communications. He noticed that there were no groups for Connecticut or New York on the website VaccineHunter.org, which was created to help people find leftover shots being thrown away.

Members of the New York/ Connecticut Vaccine Hunters find the group through word-of-mouth and media coverage.

"It's turned into a beautiful experience," Leyden told Patch.

"I've never seen a group on the internet so humane and active."

Members share tips, information about how to find spots, keep each other updated on changing rules and regulations, but maybe as importantly, Leyden says, offer each other emotional support.

"Each and every person is coming in desperate, looking for the vaccines for themselves, their parents. So many people are coming in to help other people."

The group has 14 moderators, made up of medical professionals and social workers. Leyden explains that many members are the children of older adults who aren't online, and they keep a "special eye out for the elderly. We will arrange transportation, there's nothing we won't do to help."

Vaccines are becoming more available as retail pharmacies have started dispensing shots, but many people don't know that excess vaccines are technically allowed to be given to any consenting adult on a first-come, first-serve basis, Leyden said.

"Supply and demand is still out of wack and the state governments have a huge challenge and they are trying to adapt. But there are professionals who are experts at this type of communications," who are volunteering to help fill in the gaps in the system.

"Right now, there's no place to go right now and say you have a problem. Not having one central website, making people check different websites, sitting in [online] waiting rooms only to find no appointments... it's creating anxiety in people."

Leyden anticipates another four months of full-on effort for the volunteers and members of the group.

"The most important thing right now is people need to get vaccinated and they need to talk to each other in a warm, secure place."