The family and loved ones of a 92-year-old woman who died of Covid Thursday are outraged knowing she fought so hard to get the vaccine.
Carmen Martinez and her son Antonio Collazo had repeatedly asked Dry Harbor officials to vaccinate the elderly woman suffering mild Alzheimer but to no avail.
The response was that the priority was for permanent residents while rehab and shot-term patients would wait for their shot.
Collazo complained and kept insisting on his mom to get the vaccine since the rollout started at the nursing home on Dec. 23.
His efforts led officials to set Martinez’s vaccination for Jan. 13, but by then, she contracted the deadly virus.
“It’s a shame,” Collazo said. “These people are tasked with taking care of our elderly. Once the vaccine became available, they should call the family to get permission to give it to patients who can’t ask for it themselves.”
Martinez died after spending two weeks on a ventilator following the infection and became the second Dry Harbor patient to die for the same reason.
Vita Fontanetta, 66, was admitted to the facility as a rehab patient suffering leg inflammation and therefore, was not eligible for the vaccine per their rules.
She arrived at the nursing home on Jan. 11 and passed away from the viral illness on Jan. 23.
