Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy was launched last week but to the extreme disappointment of many, people with disabilities were not mentioned once in the plan. People with disabilities were and still are more negatively impacted by the pandemic than those without disabilities. Many were forced to isolate or cocoon at home which has had a very serious emotional, physical and financial impact on them and their families. Many are not in a position to participate in the so-called new normal involving social distancing, the wearing of masks and regular hand sanitising. This negative impact has lasted for ten months now and it is critical that it is not allowed to last one moment longer than absolutely necessary.

In England the registered Covid-19 death rate for people with disabilities is four times higher than the general population and people with a learning disability are dying from Covid at a much younger age than the general population. I do not think we have the equivalent figures for Ireland but I ask that people with disabilities be considered in the context of the vaccine plan.

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