Michael is joined by Samantha Connor, President of PWDA (People With Disability Australia), who says the Federal Government needs to heed the Disability Royal Commission’s latest call for improved vaccination measures to protect the lives of people with disability before states start to open up from COVID lockdowns.

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability released the draft Commissioners’ Report of Public hearing 12: The experiences of people with disability, in the context of the Australian Government’s approach to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The report sets out a range of findings and recommendations about the government’s vaccine rollout as it affects people with disability, particularly people in residential disability settings and people with intellectual disability.

A key recommendation is no easing of restrictions until all people with disability and all active disability support workers have been fully vaccinated.

The report essentially backs a series of demands from the disability sector over the last six months that people with disability be prioritised for vaccines with in-home vaccinations and priority booking services, and that the government be much more transparent in relation to relevant vaccination data and strategy.

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