ID/A Coalition Advocates for Vaccines for all Individuals with IDD

The Intellectual Disability and Autism (ID/A) Services Coalition in Pennsylvania shared their concerns for people with intellectual disabilities and autism, with regard to the accessibility and prioritization for COVID-19 vaccines, in a letter to Governor Wolf, Secretary Beam, and Secretary Miller.

On March 5, 2021, Jefferson Health released an analysis from a national study confirming that those with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at greatest risk of death from COVID-19 after those of older age/elderly. This comprehensive study conducted by Jefferson Health demonstrates how people with IDD are at significantly higher risk of hospitalization and death when compared to the general population. “The results showed that those with intellectual disabilities were 2.5 times more likely to contract COVID-19, were about 2.7 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital and 5.9 times more likely to die from the infection than the general population.”

This study confirms the need for all people with IDD to be moved to 1A for vaccination priority.