"Covid is killing us": Calls for people with learning disabilities to be pushed higher up the vaccine priority list
18-34-year-olds with learning disabilities are six times more likely to die from coronavirus
A Cheltenham dad has joined calls for people with learning disabilities to be moved further up the vaccine priority list.
It comes after a report, published by Public Health England (PHE), last spring revealed 18-34-year-olds with learning disabilities are six times more likely to die from Covid-19.
A national campaign is also being run by learning disability charity Mencap which is also calling for MPs and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to review where they sit on the list.
Adam Murphy, from Cheltenham, says his 24-year-old son Ryan - who has non-verbal learning disabilities and autism, does not know how to socially distance and would not know what to do if he tested positive with coronavirus.
Adam Murphy said:
"My son can't wear a face mask and when he goes to the shop will pick things up due to his sensory needs.
"But all of these are huge risk factors to him and more importantly he wouldn't know if he had Covid or even be aware of what the symptoms are of Covid.
"Also if he was admitted to hospital with Covid, he wouldn't know to stay in the bed, it would be really challenging for nurses to support him and he would be disruptive on the ward because he wouldn't really know what was going on".
Mr. Murphy says the statistic from PHE's report last year are "deeply concerning" and is genuinely worried for his safety.
He's now calling on MPs to re-consider where people with learning disabilities sit on the priority vaccine sit.
"I understand there are so many people who are also worthy of receiving this vaccine as soon as possible.
"But there are hard statistics here which show the huge risk facing people with learning disabilities.
"No one is talking about the risk both to people with learning disabilities and to the wider public as well as they may not realise they had Covid and could continue to pass on the infection".
Some people are getting priority for having the vaccine. For example, priority group 6 includes people with a severe or profound learning disability – but not everyone with a learning disability is included.
Learning disability charity Mencap are running a campaign asking people tow rite to their local MPs asking them to bring forward a motion for a debate in Parliament.
Harry Roche, who works for Mencap and also has learning disabilities, said:
"Covid is killing us and we're being left out.
"We're campaigning as much as we can but it just seems like we're getting ignored.
"We're asking for them to act on it right now. We're not asking them, we're telling them because if some one in that key category was to contract the virus there's a high possibility it could kill them".
PHE’s report on COVID-19 deaths in people with learning disabilities included adults with Down’s syndrome, who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and are in priority group 4.
Other people with severe and profound learning disabilities are in priority group six because data shows they are less at risk of death than the higher groups.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI, said:
“The JCVI’s advice on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible.
"As the single greatest risk of death from COVID-19 is older age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.”
Fore more advice and support for people with learning disabilities or their carers, visit Mencap's website here.
You can also call their support helpline on 0808 808 1111 from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.