Thread by @DisabilityIndia

Redo it @MoHFW_INDIA
#20 Persons with disabilities due to Intellectual disabilities/ Muscular Dystrophy/ Acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ Persons with disabilities having high support needs/ Multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness
pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…

Disability need not be a co-morbidity, but most disabled citizens in the Indian context, are at a higher risk for Covid acquisition and death. And while the inclusion of some disabilities in India's Phase II vaccination strategy is welcome from an inclusion pov, it's not enough.

So call this a vaccine priority list of high risk groups instead of a co-morbidity list @NITIAayog . And remove the age bar for disability - there is enough evidence in India's Covid death data to support what every disabled Indian knows - they rarely emerge alive from hospitals.

And along with geo-tagging planned for Covid vaccination centres, please indicate ramp availability and general accessibility information including waiting area Hospitals should be but aren't necessarily wheelchair accessible. Or you could make provisions for home vaccinations.

Please also address the disabilities inexplicably excluded from #20 on India's vaccine list @NITIAayog , remove the age bar, waive the requirement of a doctor certificate in lieu of a disability id, and include upto 2 carers (age irrespective) for those with high / complex needs