People with learning disabilities in England are eight times more likely to die from Covid than the general population, according to research that highlights a “hidden calamity” of the coronavirus crisis. It shows that people with learning disabilities are five times more likely to end up in hospital after infection. Of 90,307 adults on the learning disability register, 538 (0.6%) were admitted to hospital with Covid, and 222 (0.25%) were recorded as Covid-related deaths. On average, people with learning disabilities die more than 20 years younger than the general population. “It’s shocking what we find for learning disabilities and it shows that people with learning disabilities should be prioritised for Covid vaccination, but it highlights that we don’t know much about people with disabilities more broadly who may be just as vulnerable,” said Kuper.

Source: The Guardian July 15, 2021 04:52 UTC