People with disabilities demand to be vaccinated in their homes or separate facilities after learning that journalists are being vaccinated at their offices.
Disability rights activist Abha Khetarpal was infected with COVID-19 when she received her vaccination, saying, “The centre was very crowded. Because of it, my mother also got Covid and couldn’t take her second dose.”
“The best would be to provide the vaccination at home as many with severe disabilities cannot go and get vaccinations. Moreover, being vulnerable and with low immunity, they are at risk of getting infected because of the huge crowd,” she added.
Satendra Singh, teacher at University College of Medical Sciences and disability activist, suggested that old age homes or homes for people with disabilities may be used. “If arrangements can be made at schools, why not at these homes? A recent US study in New England Journal of Medicine reveal that those with intellectual disabilities were 2.5 times more likely to contract Covid-19, about 2.7 times more likely to be hospitalised and 5.9 times more likely to die than the general population. I have read that even in Pakistan, they vaccinated 80+ at their homes,” Singh said.
Mohd Faizal Nawaz and Meenu Mani have filed a petition with the Delhi High Court, demanding extraordinary treatment for people with disabilities. They want vaccinations to take place in facilities that are home to the most vulnerable population including psychiatric nursing homes, mental health institutions and homes for people with severe disabilities.
Manjir Gupta, head of NGO Protection of the Rights of Differently Abled Children, explained that it is extremely difficult for some people with intellectual disabilities to wait in lines for long periods of time to get their vaccine. “I have 18 such students in the 18+ category for vaccination. It is difficult to make them wait in queues as most of them suffer from anxiety and behavioral disorders,” said Gupta.
