Health Care

This journal article describes results of a survey of 439 adults with disabilities about their concerns of the COVID-19 disease, vaccines, and hesitancy toward vaccination to learn more about factors that influence vaccination hesitancy. Results indicate that concern about vaccines was the most significant predictor of hesitancy, even after considering demographic, economic, and geographic factors. The findings indicate that some individuals may be more hesitant because they are more concerned about vaccine safety than COVID-19 infection.

This report provides an analysis of data to better understand where cases and deaths are rising in nursing homes as of August 8 2021. Among the findings: COVID-19 cases among residents and staff are on the rise in nursing homes with the steepest increases in urban areas and in the South and Midwest. Disabled people are disproportionately overrepresented in the resident populations of unsafe congregate settings, such as nursing homes. Vaccination rates across both residents and staff in nursing homes have stagnated.

This archived webinar from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) National Network Learning Series reviewed the experiences of Medicaid beneficiaries and people with disabilities in California and nationally related to vaccine prioritization and deployment. Presenters reflected on lessons for policy and practice that will support greater equity moving forward. The webinar featured Andy Imparato, executive director of Disability Rights California, and MaryBeth Musumeci, associate director at the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)

This research brief uses data from the PULSE survey collected between January and March 2021 to gauge rates of vaccination and vaccine hesitancy among people of working age who receive Social Security benefits (retirement, disability, or survivors), Supplemental Security Income benefits, or Medicare benefits.

In this archived webinar, Dr. Nathaniel Nolan of Washington University of St. Louis joined CEDAR Midwest to address questions and concerns clients of our member organizations may have regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

This research brief explores how people with disabilities are experiencing COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the United States. Many people with disabilities are at higher risk of both contracting COVID-19 and experiencing sever outcomes. Despite this, disability status is not typically included in COVID-19 case reports and most state vaccination plans have not considered disability status as a risk factor,

This blog article used geographical data to identify areas where the number of available hospital beds might outpace the number of people requiring critical care due to COVID-19. Early in the pandemic, there were concerns about rationing care when faced with a shortage of intensive care hospital beds or ventilators, and concerns that people with disabilities might be denied treatment over people without disabilities. The article includes discussion of rationing care and equitable access.

This blog article compared rates of institutionalized populations across rural and urban counties, finding much higher rates of institutionalization of people with disabilities in rural counties. Research has shown that COVID infection rates were extremely high in institutional setting such as nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and group homes.

This blog article used geographical data to highlight the distribution of skilled nursing facilities across the use and understand the risk for COVID exposure and death within these settings, particularly in rural communities. The report finds that skilled nursing facilities benefit from community partner support to adopt CDC and local health department recommendations, practices, and resources (e.g., funding and resources being organized across federal agencies) using a whole community approach in local response and recovery efforts, particularly in rural communities.

This brief reports on a survey of people with disabilities to gauge their access to, knowledge of, and interest in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, 19% of our sample of people with disabilities reported already being vaccinated, 56% wanted to get vaccinated, 10% were unsure, and 15% did not want to be vaccinated. Rural residents with disabilities reported higher rates of current vaccination, but higher rates of overall hesitancy, and more barriers to vaccination than urban residents with disabilities.