The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending that states include Americans with disabilities or cognitive issues and their caregivers on the eligibility list for COVID-19 vaccination.
The CDC does state that all three authorized vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are equally recommended; however, it is suggesting that the Johnson & Johnson shot might be the better option because it is one dose and doesn’t need to be frozen. It believes these features are beneficial to those that need to be fully immunized immediately or would have problems booking appointments for the second dose.
Since the beginning of the vaccination rollout, advocates for those with disabilities have been demanding the CDC prioritize this vulnerable population.
Last month, 16 groups sent a letter to the CDC, urging that people with developmental disabilities who live alone or with family be added to the first groups to be vaccinated.
Americans in long-term care homes had already been placed in group 1A with frontline healthcare workers. People with disabilities often do live in these type of facilities, however, the CDC made no mention of those who don’t live in congregate environments.
Approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. have a developmental disability.
The letter referenced several studies that revealed people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at higher risk of contracting, suffering serious complications and dying from COVID-19. One study found they are three times more likely to die from the disease.
“Individuals with IDD (are at significantly higher risk compared to the general population, regardless of their living situation,” the letter read.
“We believe that at-risk individuals with IDD must be prioritized explicitly along with other high-risk diagnoses.”
According to ANCOR, a non-profit trade association that represents private community service providers for people with disabilities, Americans with developmental disabilities are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in 31 states across the nation.
Currently, more than 52.8 million people – 15.9 % of the population – have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 26.9 million – 8.1 % of the population – are fully vaccinated.
The U.S. reached a seven-day rolling average of two million vaccinations per day for the first tine.
