COVID-19 vaccine rollout slammed as failure for disabled Kiwis

There's concern the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is failing disabled people, with one advocate describing it as a shambles. 

Group 3 vaccinations began in May but people with disabilities are still struggling to even make a first appointment. 

Becki Moss lives with chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension. Being high-risk and in group 3, she hoped to have at least one of her COVID-19 vaccines by now, but that hasn't been the reality. 

"It has felt a little bit like being in the dark and just waiting and waiting and waiting," she told Newshub.

After months of anxiety about when she'd get the call-up, only on Sunday was she able to book in a slot and she won't be fully vaccinated until September. 

The 25-year-old says it's a "kick in the guts" when more than 65,000 people in group 4 have already had one jab.

"I think everyone that I know that's in my position has just been on edge and also increasingly frustrated with the amount of queue jumping that's been happening."

Her story is one of many and disability advocate Prudence Walker from the Disabled Persons Assembly is incredibly concerned.

"It really is a shambles for disabled people and we don't have faith that we are going to get equitable outcomes for disabled people."

The Assembly said there is huge inconsistency between District Health Boards and many people have still heard nothing about getting the vaccine. 

"Disabled people already have less trust in the system and this was an opportunity to not add to that mistrust but I think it's probably too late now," Walker said.

The Ministry of Health was not able to give us a breakdown of how many disabled people have been vaccinated. 

Their current advice still stands; people in group 3 will get an invite from their DHB by the end of the month.