Australians with a disability ‘forgotten’ in coronavirus vaccine rollout, advocates say

Former commissioner and other sector leaders condemn decision to prioritise aged care over disability care and workers

Australia’s former disability discrimination commissioner and disability advocates have condemned the failure to prioritise disability care in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, saying residents and support staff were blindsided by a lack of information.

Health department officials in the two months since the rollout began, despite their inclusion in the government’s highest priority cohort. The government deliberately prioritised aged care residents over those in disability care, leaving about 6,000 facilities without even a first dose of vaccine.