Detroit COVID Vaccination Queue is One of First to Include People with ADHD
Shoutout for Detroit!
Detroit is now one of the only places in the country offering Covid-19 vaccinations to all residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including ADHD.
With the recent research regarding ADHD and longevity, this just makes sense. Turbo Thinkers can be impulsive, hyperactive and have difficulty focusing. According to the article, “people with the disorder might not realize they’re too close to others. They might impulsively touch people or things and might get distracted and forget to wash their hands or wear a mask — all behaviors that would put them at higher risk for coronavirus infection.”
Going out in public during this global pandemic, while having ADHD, is like navigating a warzone of invisible hazards. Just this morning, I took my son to his psychiatrist for his checkup and ADHD medication prescription at the clinic, which is part of the largest hospital compound of New Orleans. I am fortunate that he was in a happy mood, but he placed his hands on every single surface. He felt the texture of the wall along the entire length of the hallway, created musical instruments of upholstered chairs in waiting areas, drummed on railings, and dropped to the ground in a sort of breakdance. We avoided the elevator and took the stairs with, you guessed it, a long, smooth handrail on each floor. At the reception station, he fidgeted with his mask and touched his face, then reached over to hug me. “Do you see any hand sanitizer? Do you have pockets for your hands?” I love my son, the super spreader. Let’s hope New Orleans allows vaccines for residents with ADHD too.