Facts

There are individuals who don’t welcome all vaccines. One possible reason is the fear of vaccines causing autism even though this has been disproved. Others choose not to get the yearly flu vaccine because they never catch the flu or, in the past, have had only mild symptoms. (Source)

Fear it is not safe due to the vaccine being new and developed in a timeframe like no other vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine took less than a year to be approved, while most vaccines take years to receive approval. To some, it may seem rushed; however, the technology behind the COVID-19 vaccine has been around for 20 years. (Source)

Some are reluctant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to its effectiveness. There are many unanswered questions, such as how long the vaccine is effective or its effectiveness against emerging strains. (Source)

The fear of having to wait for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine and its long-term side effects leads to hesitancy. (Source)

Some individuals don’t see COVID-19 as a serious health risk and due to this people may not feel the need to protect themselves from it. (Source)

Click here to view common questions concerning the COVID-19 vaccine.

• IDD and related conditions are the third-highest risk of COVID-19 death (Turk, et al, 2020).
• Intellectual disability is the strongest risk factor for COVID-19 (Gleason et al., 2021).
• In an English sample, risk of death for men and women with disabilities were 3.1 and 3.5 times, respectively, greater than their non-disabled counterparts (Ayoubkhani & Bosworth, 2021).
• Individuals with Down Syndrome have a three-fold increased risk for mortality compared to the general population (Huls et al., 2021).
• Individuals with learning disabilities faced negative impacts from COVID-19, including adapting to working from home, feeling lonely due to lack of in-person social interaction, suspension of resources (e.g., community centers), and anxiety and fear about themselves, friends, and family members contracting the COVID-19 virus (Flynn et al., 2021).

(1) increased risk of poor health outcomes from the disease, (2) reduced access to routine health care and rehabilitation, and (3) adverse social impacts of efforts to mitigate the pandemic (Shakespeare et al., 2021).

• Vaccination policies failed to account for disabled persons relying on long-term services and supports that lived outside of nursing homes, despite also showing elevated risks of COVID-19 infection (Musumeci & Chidambaram, 2021).
• Because of the diversity in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community, there is not a “single way” to provide healthcare, and each individual requires personalized care (Lunsky et al., 2021).
• COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals with IDD’s well-being and mental health care: (1) impact of pandemic on daily life and well-being, (2) a need for connection, and (3) availability and access to mental health supports (Lake et al., 2021).
  • However, individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of new adversities.

Source (Chidambaram, 2020; Larson et al., 2014; Hansford, et al, 2022).

• Findings specific to California: Landes et al., 2021.

Please click here for further detail: (https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/sites/virus/files/2021-03/COVID_Vaccine_Hesitancy_report.pdf)

Please click here for further information: (https://www.hcarddcovid.com/info#vaccine)

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides the latest news and resources to help protect the health of communities across the U.S. Here you can find information and pertaining to vaccine confidence and strategies to take as to build trust and engage communities in regards to the covid-19 vaccines.

Hood Medicine strives to raise awareness regarding the disparities that marginalized groups have been facing during the current pandemic and to provide resources that can help such communities. Here you can find information pertaining to covid-19 and the vaccines in the form of podcasts, infographics, and FAQs. 

 The Disability Visibility Project strives to create and share the stories of the disabled community through sharing their own narratives in the form of essays, podcasts, and other forms of media. Here you can find information regarding covid-19 related-resources and the experiences of individuals in the disabled community during the pandemic.

IDA consists of over 1,100 organizations from around the world which promote inclusivity and advocacy of disabled individuals. Here you can find updates and resources in regards to vaccine availability and accessibility to the disabled community.

CVAR’s main goal is to aid mothers and their children in providing vaccine delivery and awareness through education, resources, and research. Here you can find the latest resources and updates pertaining to covid-19.

Johns Hopkins Medicine conducts research and provides patient-centered care in order to help, prevent, diagnose, and treat varying illnesses and diseases. Here you can find information which tackles concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine hesitancy.

Here you can find posts regarding covid-19, vaccine hesitancy, and promoting vaccine confidence among self-advocates and allies of the disabled community

@ndhealthchats

@uclaallbrains

@adhd_bri

@autisticselfadvocacy

@neuroclastic

UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) consists of nine distinct programs which strive to combat challenges pertaining to many different health and public health issues, including disease prevention. Here you can find information regarding vaccine confidence resources.