Isle Of Wight Vaccine Rollout: Calls Grow To Prioritise People With Learning Disabilities

An Isle of Wight man says he fears the "unfair" coronavirus vaccine priority list is putting the lives of himself and others with learning disabilities at risk.

Sam Jefferies, who volunteers for disabled charity MenCap, is calling for a "blanket protection" for everybody who has a learning disability.

Figures from Public Health England show disabled people are up to six times more likely to die from COVID-19.

For those aged between 18 and 34 with learning disabilities, the mortality rate is 30 times higher.

The government insists it is working hard to vaccinate everyone at risk.

Currently, adults with Down's Syndrome are included in category four of the Government's COVID-19 vaccination schedule.

Those with "severe and profound" learning disabilities fall into category six. But those with other learning disabilities, like Sam, do not yet qualify for a jab.

Speaking to Isle of Wight Radio, he called on the "inequalities" to be urgently addressed.

He said:

"For so long, we have faced inequalities and we have always had to fight for our rights and I think it's not really fair that you can prioritise one set of group with learning disabilities and not the other. 

"I'm fighting for all people with learning disabilities. We're not trying to jump on the bandwagon, the least we can have is the vaccine and be protected. 

"There's probably lots of people in the same situation like myself and finding it really difficult."

Sam, from Shanklin, is the Vice Chair on the Voices Council at Royal Mencap Society - a learning disability charity based in London. 

He says he is able to carry out his work thanks to his support worker and his Nan who cares for him.

He recognises not everyone with learning disabilities has the same help however, which puts them at greater risk.

He said:

"Many people are not in supported living or shared accommodation. Many of them are living at home and not getting the support. Or even some people with learning disabilities are living independently and not having carers in all the time and they might have to go to the shops.

"There's always a risk they could contract COVID and unfortunately end up dying with it, or in hospital.

"I live with my nan who is over 70 and she has had her vaccine and she is my carer. On that note, why can't people who are living at home and are being cared for, why can't they be given a vaccine? 

"It makes it strange that they protect the carer but at the end of the day the person who is being cared for can still get it and end up in hospital."

Although the vaccine priority list is Government recommended, cities across the UK have taken the decision to adjust the schedule.

Earlier this week Sheffield announced it would prioritise those with learning disabilities - a move which has been praised by MenCap.

Sam says it is time the Isle of Wight's health bodies make a stand. He told Isle of Wight Radio:

"It's creating like a postcode lottery where certain places in England have decided to roll it out and some places haven't, it creates an unbalanced effect. 

"You have half of England doing it and the other half not. In that case other places should really follow suit and roll it out for all people with learning disabilities and not just certain groups."

Isle of Wight Radio has approached the Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group for a comment.