COVID-19 vaccination programme: a central role for primary care

Anthony Harnden; Wei Shen Lim; Andrew Earnshaw

doi:10.3399/bjgp21X714929

Published eLetters

eLetter submission guidelines

Submit a Response to This Article

Compose eLetter

Title *

Author Information

Contributors
First Name and Middle Initial * First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'. Last Name * Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'. Email Address * Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com Occupation * Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'. Affiliation * Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

COVID-19 vaccination programme: a central role for primary care
Laura R Skeldon and Mihari N. DeSoysa

Published on: 22 February 2021

Published on: (22 February 2021)

COVID-19 vaccination programme: a central role for primary care
Laura R Skeldon, Medical student, University of Warwick
Other Contributors:
Mihari N. DeSoysa, Medical Student, University of Warwick
The article by Harden et al highlighted to us the important and admirable role that primary care is playing in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The authors mentioned the importance of targeting vulnerable groups, such as BAME communities, however we noted that individuals with learning disabilities were overlooked.

Whilst the impact of the pandemic has been devastating to the general population, individuals with learning disabilities have been among those hardest hit. A report by Public Health England identified that people with learning disabilities have a death rate 6.3 times higher than the general population. Additionally, the death rate for people aged 18-34 with learning disabilities was 30 times higher compared to their peers without learning disabilities.¹ These statistics confirm our own experiences of working on COVID positive wards and caring for a high number of patients with learning disabilities.

Under the current vaccine roll out, care home residents and their carer’s are the highest priority group. Those with underlying health conditions were also identified as high risk, and therefore to receive the vaccine early. This group included individuals with Down’s syndrome and those with severe and profound learning disabilities.² Whilst it is important that these group receive the vaccine quickly, this approach has been criticized as it overlooks many people with learning disabilities, who are also at...
Show More

The article by Harden et al highlighted to us the important and admirable role that primary care is playing in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The authors mentioned the importance of targeting vulnerable groups, such as BAME communities, however we noted that individuals with learning disabilities were overlooked.

Whilst the impact of the pandemic has been devastating to the general population, individuals with learning disabilities have been among those hardest hit. A report by Public Health England identified that people with learning disabilities have a death rate 6.3 times higher than the general population. Additionally, the death rate for people aged 18-34 with learning disabilities was 30 times higher compared to their peers without learning disabilities.¹ These statistics confirm our own experiences of working on COVID positive wards and caring for a high number of patients with learning disabilities.

Under the current vaccine roll out, care home residents and their carer’s are the highest priority group. Those with underlying health conditions were also identified as high risk, and therefore to receive the vaccine early. This group included individuals with Down’s syndrome and those with severe and profound learning disabilities.² Whilst it is important that these group receive the vaccine quickly, this approach has been criticized as it overlooks many people with learning disabilities, who are also at a greater risk

Prior to the pandemic, individuals with learning disabilities already faced barriers to accessing primary care, which has only been exacerbated in the last year.³ Primary care services have little influence over deciding who should receive the vaccine. However, it is vital that primary care services are accessible and inclusive to ensure that when the time comes, all those who are vulnerable will be able to receive it. These services could become more welcoming to individuals with learning disabilities by increasing staff training, providing longer appointments and accessible information.³

References
1. Public Health England (2020). Deaths of peoples identified as having learning disabilities with COVID-19 in England in spring of 2020. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/933612/COVID-19__learning_disabilities_mortality_report.pdf (Accessed 15th February 2021).
2. Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (2021). Department of Health and Social Care (2021). Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: advice on priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination, 30 December 2020. www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020 (Accessed 15 February 2021).
3. Doherty AJ, Atherton H, Boland P et al. Barriers and facilitators to primary health care for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism: an integrative review. BJGP Open 2020 25;4(3).

Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.