Covid’s new NDIS challenge

AUSTRALIA’S disability sector is a Covid-19 time bomb, with thousands of deaths likely when Sydney and Melbourne lift lockdowns, advocates say.

The shockingly slow rollout of coronavirus jabs to National Disability Insurance Scheme participants has left more than 100,000 people at risk.

Only 42.4 per cent of NDIS participants have been doubledosed despite being among the priority groups, by September 19.

Of the highest risk NDIS participants living in residential accommodation, 74.9 per cent have had their first dose, compared with 85.7 per cent for first doses in NSW, according to September 27 figures.

On Monday, a royal commission report found that the Department of Health massively underestimated the number of people in disability care when designing its vaccine strategy.

The draft report urged state and territory governments to not ease restrictions until all Australians with a disability had had an opportunity to receive both jabs.