Arizona disability advocates are calling on Health Department directors from all 15 counties to prioritize individuals with disabilities and their caregivers for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Within the disability community, only individuals who live in state-licensed group homes or other congregate settings have priority access to COVID-19 vaccines. That leaves a lot of people out for the time being, and that’s a concern since people with disabilities are more likely to suffer adverse outcomes.

The letter was signed by more than 725 disability groups, family members, and caregivers. And they came up with seven recommendations to improve access for this vulnerable population.

For example, they want people with Down syndrome to be prioritized since they are 10 times as likely to die from COVID-19. They also asked that certain family caregivers be prioritized, and they called on counties to develop an outreach plan for those who are homebound.

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