COVID-19 vaccine rollout for Australians living with disability needs clarity, experts say

As the mother of a woman who lives with disability, Dot Leigh is relieved her vulnerable daughter will soon have access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Key points: People with disability and staff in residential care are part of the first phase of the vaccine rollout, expected to start next month But disability advocates said it was still unclear who was included in that first phase of the rollout Advocates said more clarity was needed to build trust and take away the fear factor for people living with disability The Geelong mum is the primary carer for 44-year-old Rosie who lives with Down syndrome and an intellectual disability. Vaccine roadmap 'needs further clarification' The Department of Health said it had been working closely with other government organisations, including the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Department of Social Services to develop a "COVID-19 Vaccination Program Disability Sector Implementation Plan" and had also been collaborating with peak bodies in the disability sector. In delivering the vaccine, Professor Kavanagh said the strategy must include going to places where people with disability felt comfortable and confident rather than "sterile doctors surgeries or mass vaccination clinics" where they may be frightened. "People with disability and their support workers are very much not a homogenous group," Ms Kayess said.