sbs– Disability advocates are urging the government to fix Australia’s vaccination rollout, with the majority of the sector still waiting for their first coronavirus jab.
Disability accommodation providers and residents were supposed to be included in the first phase of the national rollout, which targets the country’s most vulnerable residents.
National Disability Services chief David Moody says the sector is keenly awaiting the result of Monday’s national cabinet meeting in the hopes a tangible plan is developed to get the rollout back on track.
He understands that it is a huge logistical exercise.
“That said, we are frustrated, very frustrated, and concerned about the lack of vaccine going into people’s arms which should have been under phase 1a,” Mr Moody told AAP.
“The reason why the disability sector was identified for priority access for the vaccine is because we know, based upon research, that people with disability often suffer much harsher impacts as a result of getting COVID-19.”
Mr Moody wants to know how and when people in disability accommodation will receive vaccinations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will meet his state and territory counterparts on Monday as they grapple with updated health advice that has put them back to the drawing board for the vaccine rollout.
The leaders will meet twice weekly until it is on track.
Most Australians were supposed to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine but that has been linked to rare blood clots so people under the age of 50 have been told to get the Pfizer option instead.
The Commonwealth has primary responsibility for vaccinating disability care residents and has contracted private companies to deliver the jabs.
