health disparities

The objective of this scoping review was to systematically identify the environmental factors that impacted people with disability in the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors found that the social determinants of health for people with disability were not adequately considered in the acute phase of infection prevention at the population level.

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,

In this archived webinar, speakers addressed policies regarding the determination of who is eligible to receive the vaccines during the various phases of the rollout and the disparities that exist. In addition, this session discussed how the ADA applies to the state/local governments and private organizations administering the vaccinations, web based and telephone systems used to search/locate and schedule a vaccine appointment, vaccination site accessibility, effective communication with recipients and modifications in policies, practices and procedures.

Published in the American Journal of Bioethics specially issue on COVID-19. From the introduction: “While the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked disproportionate havoc in marginalized racial/ethnic communities, little attention has been given to people with disabilities in the press, public health surveillance, and research. A few articles, including this special issue, consider the discriminatory nature of categorical exclusion from and guidelines for the rationing of medical equipment and services.