The report, conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the Canadian Pharmacists Association found that vaccine fatigue reduces people's willingness to get immunized.
Sue Robins: No Canadian province has made people with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities a priority for the COVID vaccine. Only the Yukon and the Northwest Territories are currently prioritizing vaccinations for all disabled people.
Other countries have also surpassed Canadian provinces in recognizing the COVID risk for people with developmental disabilities. The U.K. is currently vaccinating adults with learning disabilities, and India began vaccinating people with intellectual disabilities on March 1.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control added Down syndrome to its list of high-risk conditions in late December.
But Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which makes recommendations on the use of vaccines, does not specifically name Down syndrome or people with developmental disabilities in its guidance. And it has sparse mention for any type of disability. Strikingly, the committee’s guidance on vaccination prioritization, which
They deal with sick patients every day. But they’re not a priority for COVID vaccination.
Moira Wyton is The Tyee’s health reporter. Follow her @moirawyton or reach her here. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative. SHARES A porter at Vancouver General Hospital says he and fellow porters have been left in the dark about when they’ll receive the COVID-19 vaccine, despite working closely with those infected with the virus.
Photo by Joshua Berson.
It was just a few weeks after COVID-19 sent its first patients to B.C. hospitals last March, and Kieran could tell his colleague was nervous.