Peoplein Corangamiteare potentially amongmanyAustraliansliving with a disabilityyet to be COVID-19 vaccinated, which is appallinggiven Prime MinisterMorrisons assurances that vulnerable Australians would be a priorityfor vaccines, local MP Libby Coker said today.
I chaired the Corangamite NDIS Reference Group last week and was saddened to learn that there is still poor understanding of COVID issues among some people with disabilities in this region, even as vaccines are finally becoming widely available in the community, Ms Coker said.
People with a disabilitywere supposed to belooked after early in the rollout, butits becoming obvious yet again thatthe Prime Ministerhasnt delivered on his promise to vulnerable Australians on vaccinations.
Last week adraft report of theRoyal Commissionlooking into the treatment of people livingwith a disabilityspotlighted glaringfailuresinthe Morrison-Joyce Governments vaccine rollout toone of our most vulnerable groups.
The draft report said the rollout to people with a disability was seriously deficient.
There was afailure to consult properly with people withadisability and their support workers and service providers, alack of transparency in decision makingand a failure to provide clear and easily understoodinformation about vaccines and the rollout.
Geelong-based disability consultant and member of the Corangamite NDIS Reference GroupLynne Foreman,who lives with a disability,saidthe information fromthe Commonwealth agencies such as the NDIShad been poor.
I never got emails orothernotificationsfrom the Commonwealth about the vaccine and the rollout. I always thought people with a disability were to be a priority, MsForeman said.
I know that especially among people with an intellectual disability, some still dont understand the concept of the vaccine. People locally in residential care have been concerned about poor information and the slow availability of vaccinations for themselves and support staff.
Women With Disabilities Victoria local hub liaison officer Deb Haygarth said she felt people with a disability were left high and dry when it came to the vaccination.
I understand the lack of available vaccines was a huge issue. Due to their vulnerability, persons suffering from a disability should have been top priority, Ms Haygarth said.
The fact people were not contacted, so had little understanding of the procedure to receive a vaccination, showing the care factor of those in charge.
The degree of disability was the model of protection. If a person was mentally and physically capable of researching and seeking out for themselves, they would be protected. If not, it's been a waiting game for authorised people to step in. This has not been good enough.
Rights Information Advocacy Centre disability advocate Rachael Thompson has also expressed concern about the governments lack of meaningful action to take steps to improve the vaccine roll-out for people with disability.
Once again people with disability are being left behind and treated as second class citizens. There needs to be specific outreach to people with disability and the government must comply with best practice international standards for COVID-19 vaccine roll-outs, Ms Thompson said.
They should also follow People With Disability Australias 11-point plan immediately, which has been prepared in consultation with people with disability and endorsed by more than 60 disability advocacy organisations and peak bodies across Australia.
Ms Coker said that although the community is moving to the liftingof COVID restrictions and freedom day, shesnotconvincedall peoplelivingwitha disability havebeen given enough information on vaccinations, based on the flow of anecdotal evidence coming to her electorate office and via the reference group.
I dont believe theyve all been given agenuine opportunityto make an informed vaccination decision nor to receive a priority vaccination, as promised by the Morrison Government, Ms Coker said.
People with disabilitieshave found itchallengingto get to a vaccination hub or a GPfor a vaccination.Many arereluctantto beinpublicdue totheirhighervulnerability toillnesses, including COVID.
People living with disabilities have been left behind at every stage of the Morrison-JoyceGovernments vaccination rollout.Theydeservemuch,muchbetter.
Reference:The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability last week (27 Sept) released its draftReport of Public hearing 12: The experiences of people with disability, in the context of the Australian Governments approach to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
