Learning disability register: what is it, which disabilities qualify and when registered people will get the Covid vaccine

People registered as having learning disabilities will now be prioritised to receive a coronavirus vaccine
Those who are identified by their GP as having a severe learning disability will now be prioritised for the Covid vaccine (Picture: Getty Images)Those who are identified by their GP as having a severe learning disability will now be prioritised for the Covid vaccine (Picture: Getty Images)
Those who are identified by their GP as having a severe learning disability will now be prioritised for the Covid vaccine (Picture: Getty Images)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have advised the UK government that people on the Learning Disability register should be given priority in the Covid vaccine roll out.

Over 150,000 people across England will benefit from the move, though those identified as having mild learning disabilities will not be included.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On 24 February, the announcement was made by the JCVI as analysis shows those who are registered as having a learning disability - most often those with high support needs and severe cases - are more at risk of dying from Covid.

So, who is on the list and how can you find out if you or someone you care for is entitled to a vaccination? This is what you need to know.

What is the Learning Disability register?

The register is made up of hundreds of thousands of people who are identified by a medical professional as having a learning disability.

The UK government has now stated adults with severe and profound learning disabilities, and those with learning disabilities in long-stay nursing and residential care settings, should be offered the vaccine in priority group 6 - people with Down’s syndrome are included in group 4.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Learning disabilities have several diagnoses and the degree of impact on someone’s life can vary significantly.

Those with milder support needs and cases will not be included in the list of those prioritised to be vaccinated.

Helen Whately, Minister for Care in England, said everyone who is on the GP's learning disability register would be invited for vaccination to protect those at higher risk from the virus.

"I have heard first-hand how tough this pandemic has been for people with learning disabilities and their families," she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We are determined that those more at risk from Covid should be vaccinated as soon as possible."

How can I find out if I am on the register?

To be on the register, you must be over the age of 14, though only those over 18 will currently be considered eligible for the vaccine.

There is no higher age bracket for the register and if you think you have a learning disability you should make an appointment at your GP surgery to be assessed.

Those with severe learning disabilities are likely to have already been identified as having one and are more likely to be on the register.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If you are unsure whether or not you are already registered, you can call your GP surgery or your primary caregiver can call for you.

Those on the register are entitled to more support at medical appointments, as well as longer GP appointments and a free annual health check.

When will registered people get the vaccine?

Those identifed by thier GP as having a severe learning disability will now be considered in group 6 of the JCVI priority list.

This is alongside all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This group are expected to receive their first dose of the coronavirus jab by 15 April.

What are the increased risks of coronavirus for those on the register?

Being on the register will not automatically mean you are more at risk of serious illness or fatality from coronavirus, but data does suggest those with severe learning disabilities are at greater risk.

Professor Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 Chair for JCVI, said: “People who are severely affected by learning disabilities are at higher risk of death from COVID-19.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“As the severity of any disability may not be well recorded in GP systems, JCVI supports the NHS operational plan for anyone on the GP Learning Disability Register to be invited now for vaccination as part of priority group 6, and to reach out in the community to identify others also severely affected by a learning disability but who may not yet be registered.

“JCVI will continue to consider the emerging evidence and will keep its advice under review.”

Jackie O'Sullivan, Executive Director of Communication, Advocacy & Activism at learning disability charity Mencap, said the announcement was “fantastic news for people with a learning disability. Now everyone on the GP Learning Disability Register can get access to the COVID vaccine.”

She added: “It's now crucially important that everyone with a learning disability checks that they are on the register and asks to go on it if they are not.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Being on the register has many benefits and entitles people to annual health checks and prioritisation for future vaccinations, as well as allowing them to get the COVID vaccine and be confident they are protected.”