ICYMI: ANCOR Calls for People with I/DD to be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

In light of reporting by CNN that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to vote today on which groups should be prioritized in its vaccine distribution framework (livestream here at 2pm ET), as well as reporting by Politico Pro which finds that “the Trump administration is shunting to the states hard decisions about which Americans will get the limited early supplies of coronavirus vaccines,” we are re-sharing ANCOR’s statement on vaccine distribution for the convenience of our members.

The statement emphasizes that, “Given the expedited timeline on which forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines will be approved by the FDA and allocated according to states’ distribution frameworks, it is absolutely imperative for states that have yet to identify people with I/DD as a top-tier priority do so prior to December 10—the date on which the FDA is expected to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine for distribution. It is also crucial that ACIP, through its formal vaccine allocation recommendations, clearly signals to states the need to prioritize people with I/DD in the allocation of any FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.”

More details on vaccine distribution: Politico Pro reported that “the Trump administration has told states that they have ultimate authority for determining who gets vaccinated first. It has also decided to allocate scarce early doses based on states’ total populations, forcing hard choices in states with a greater proportion of residents at high risk — including Black, Indigenous and Latino communities that have suffered disproportionate rates of hospitalization and death from Covid-19.

Public health experts say that could undermine already shaky public confidence in the vaccine effort, whose success depends on convincing large numbers of Americans to get immunized.”

ANCOR encourages members to reach out to their governors to ask them to prioritize individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, as well as the Direct Support Professionals who assist them. We will keep members informed of our advocacy on this issue.