Adults diagnosed with any form of learning difficulty are now being invited to have their Covid vaccine after getting bumped up the priority list.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised the Government and the NHS to invite more people with learning difficulties to receive Covid-19 vaccines.
Those with severe learning disabilities are already included in priority group six, while adults with less severe conditions are not prioritised.
But the JCVI said the health service should now invite all those on the GP Learning Disability Register after analysis found they were at higher risk of death and serious illness.
Public Health England said the move will mean at least 150,000 more people with learning disabilities will be offered the vaccine more quickly.
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Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 chairman for the JCVI, said: “The JCVI’s advice on Covid-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible. People who are severely affected by learning disabilities are at higher risk of death from Covid-19.
“As the severity of any disability may not be well recorded in GP systems, JCVI supports the NHS operational plan for anyone on the GP Learning Disability Register to be invited now for vaccination as part of priority group six, and to reach out in the community to identify others also severely affected by a learning disability but who may not yet be registered.”
The change in plan comes after DJ Jo Wiley led calls for all adults with learning difficulties to be prioritised for the vaccine.
Her sister Frances, who has both learning disabilities and diabetes, was hospitalised after becoming seriously ill with coronavirus.
Frances, 53, was said to be fighting for her life at one point but has since recovered sufficiently to return home.
Update on Frances: a thread.
— Jo Whiley (@jowhiley) February 23, 2021
First of all, Frances would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has helped her, especially the amazing doctors and nurses of the NHS, and her many MANY well-wishers. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Te8jD9LtvZ
Jo confirmed the news on Twitter yesterday, and added: "I hope the vaccine is reaching more and more of those with Learning Disabilities.
"Not everyone has been as lucky as us.
"So many have died or are suffering from long Covid because they were simply not protected.
"We need to show them that they are not forgotten and we care."
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