DSSA seeks priority access to vaccines for individuals with Down syndrome

Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) calls on the national Department of Health to immediately prioritise vaccines for individuals with Down syndrome aged 18 and above.

This includes all those in residential facilities and not just by age cohorts, their primary caregivers and support staff.

In a survey conducted by DSSA, 94% of families indicated they wanted their children to be vaccinated.
DSSA, a non-profit umbrella body, was established in 1986 as a parent advocacy organisation for the promotion and protection of the Constitutional rights of all persons with Down syndrome and their families.

The organisation has 12 regional associations and support groups throughout the country.
On January 30, 2020, WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic, of importance was the policy brief issued by the WHO and UNICEF on April 19 on disability considerations for Covid-19 vaccinations.

The response to the pandemic has exposed inequalities, deepening discrimination and marginalisation.

Persons with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, both directly because of infection and indirectly due to restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus. Most persons with disabilities experience additional health complications, including co-morbidities.

According to the International Disability Alliance, health systems, in particular emergency health responses, are far from being inclusive and accessible.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, this extra chromosome alters the course of development both physically and intellectually and increases the risks to certain medical complications.

Recent research has shown that individuals with Down syndrome, particularly those over the age of 40, and younger individuals with significant co-morbidities are at a higher risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19 and are at 10 times greater risks of dying from Covid-19 compared to the general population.
Statement by The Trisomy 21 Research

Society:https://ital.campaignview.com/click.zc?od=3z272f681767d5df3b645705507ab3dd440509d8309db14b2e26e5c59fc524defd&repDgs=164d1cfa95ad
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Their risks may be further increased due to barriers in implementing and following basic hygiene protocols, difficulty in enacting social distancing, as they are dependent on others to take care of their personal needs, most live in crowded dwellings with large extended family members, in group homes or other assisted living facilities that put them at risk of contracting the virus.

Barriers such as communication challenges in understanding preventative measures and communicating the severity of the symptoms of their illness.

In the context of a limited supply of vaccines, the race is on in the fight against the Delta variant, which has seen an upsurge in positive cases. The government’s sudden turnaround to remove all those with co-morbidities from the second phase further demonstrates its failure to properly consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in inclusive response measures.

WHO has issued statements calling on governments to give considerations to disability according to guidelines of the WHO in terms of prioritisation.

Healthcare can neither be universal nor equitable if it is less accessible to some sections of society than it is to others.
Information: DSSA

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