The Australian Greens have called on the Australian Government to urgently prioritise persons with disabilities, and disability support workers, in the national vaccine roll out after it was revealed that just 6.5% of this cohort have received their first dose.
“This is absolutely shameful. It’s clear that the Australian government has once again forgotten to include persons with disabilities, and the people who support us, in their pandemic response.” said Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John
“Last year, the disability Royal Commission heard that the Australian government hadn’t included persons with disabilities in their emergency response plan for COVID-19.”
“Now, we learn that a decision has been made to exclude persons with disabilities, and our support workers, from receiving priority vaccinations despite placing us in phase 1a of the vaccine rollout!”
“It is abundantly clear that the Morrison government do not care about the safety of disabled people; they treated us like second class citizens throughout their response to the pandemic and they’re doing it again in their bungled vaccine rollout.”
“Less than 100 of the more than 6,000 disability institutions across Australia, a home and a workplace to more than 25,000 disabled people and their support workers, have obtained shipments of either vaccine amounting to less than 1,500 individuals receiving their first dose.” said Australian Greens Health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.
“The Government needs to make it an urgent priority to vaccinate persons with disabilities and support workers now.”
