Episode 27 - Vaccinating people with a learning disability and autistic people by NHS England published on 2021-03-23T13:24:48Z NHS England and NHS Improvement, Learning Disability and Autism, National Clinical Director is in conversation with Fazilla Amide, whose 17 year old son has complex health needs, learning disability and autism. They talk about the importance of collaborative working across health and social care to ensure the best outcomes can be achieved for people with a learning disability and autistic people in vaccination appointments. The podcast provides advice and support around good communication, the range of reasonable adjustments that should be considered and needle phobia. As well as some specific examples of good practice. Links to accessible resources referenced in the podcast: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england and search for ‘Covid 19 Vaccinations’ www.england.nhs.uk and search for ‘reasonable adjustments’ Genre Healthcare Comment by David There has been a failure to make reasonable adjustments to Covid vaccination policy regarding autistic people. The Covid vaccination prioritisation guidance should have included autistic people who are NOT in an at risk group. The exclusion of this group has created a great deal of anxiety and distress for autistic people and their families. The current DHSC / JCVI guidance once again demonstrates the failure of policy makers to understand autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder rather than as a learning disability. For many non LD autistic people, getting Covid would be a psychologically traumatic experience that can now be avoided. No one at our local PH Dept or local CMHT could tell us if our non LD autistic adult daughter would be prioritised for a vaccination. Our already busy GP practice exercised their discretion and arranged for her to be vaccinated at the local Primary Care Hub. Our experience is that reasonable adjustments only exist when carers push for them. 2021-04-08T15:58:41Z