Coronavirus Vaccine

You have probably heard -a new vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19, a preliminary analysis shows. Once the vaccine is approved, the Government has said that the NHS stands ready to begin a vaccination programme for those most at risk. 

This could be the light at the end of the tunnel of the coronavirus pandemic – but it’s crucial that we get it right. The current list of who will get the vaccine first does not prioritise people with learning disabilities, even though they are six times more likely to die of coronavirus according to Public Health England. 

I think we must start a petition for people with learning disabilities to be included in the vaccine priority list. As a former manager of a care home for people with learning disabilities, I have seen first hand how hard people have been hit by this pandemic. This group has suffered not only from the virus itself but the isolation and loneliness too. It is just not right that people with learning disabilities are at such a higher risk dying of coronavirus but are not going to be prioritised for the vaccine.  

I agree that older people and care home workers should be vaccinated first, but adults under 65 who are at high risk from the virus are only sixth on the list of priorities – surely this can’t be right? Please join me in urging the Government to re-think this strategy. 

Over and over the Government has failed to protect one of society’s most vulnerable. Now they must take this opportunity to make it right. This vaccine could be groundbreaking, but we must ensure it’s distributed fairly and protect those who need it the most.