A major organisation which represents people with learning disabilities has launched a campaign to ask MPs to help prioritise all members of this vulnerable group for Coronavirus vaccinations.
Mencap, which calls itself ‘the voice of learning disability’ says that despite the fact that people with a learning disability are more than six times as likely to die from Coronavirus as the general population, many of them are not in any of the priority groups that will get a potentially life-saving vaccine soon.
“This is unfair and puts lives at risk. We need your help to change this,” their statement continues and they are asking people to email their MP and write to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in a call for all people with a learning disability to be included in at least priority group six – for adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group.
The organisation has prepared a message for people to send to their MP and will also automatically tell you you who your MP is if you put your address on the form. There is also space for a personal statement if you want to give one.
The petition, which is for England only, needs 10,000 emails to succeed. More than 6,000 people have already taken part. You can do so here.
Meanwhile a group of people with learning disabilities have appeared on a video speaking to the BBC’s Disability Correspondent Nikki Fox about their fears over Covid-19 and not getting vaccinated.
