Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Διεθνής Ιατρική - Διαχείριση Κρίσεων ΥγείαςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Kallimani Evangelia
Supervisors info:
Γεωργόπουλος Σωτήριος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Πικουλής Εμμανουήλ, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Καραβοκυρός Ιωάννης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, ΙΑτρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
COVID-19, Άτομα με Αναπηρία & εμβολιασμοί σε ευρωπαϊκό & εθνικό επίπεδο - Μελέτη περίπτωσης: Στάσεις και αντιλήψεις κατά το δεύτερο κύμα της πανδημίας στην Ελλάδα
Translated title:
COVID-19, Persons with Disabilities and vaccinations in european and national level – Case study: Perceptions and attitudes during the second wave of the pandemic in Greece
Summary:
Background: SARS-COV-2 vaccination roll-out strategies at the European level do not include explicitly persons from all categories of disability. Αt the same time there is a lack of proper assessment of the social factors which increase the risk of COVID-19 infection for persons with disabilities. Purpose: On the bases of the rights enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this study seeks to examine the prevailing attitudes, perceptions, and barriers that persons with disabilities, chronic diseases and their families are faced with in the vaccination process against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Combined model through a primary quantitative and qualitative survey. The self-administered sample survey took place from 21 to 27 December 2020 at national level and the focus groups took place on 11 and 13 January 2021. The target group were persons, at least 18 years of age, with disabilities, chronic diseases and parents, guardians, judicial supporters for persons with Down syndrome, autism, intellectual disabilities, and other severe-multiple disabilities. Results: In the quantitative survey 847 persons were involved, 643 (75.9%) of them consider that persons with disabilities and/or chronic diseases are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Moreover, 664 (78,4%) believe that they should be or maybe among the prioritized groups for vaccination of SARS-CoV-2 and 568 (67.1%) consider that their support network should be also included in the prioritized groups. In the qualitative survey 24 persons participated. All of them expressed their determination to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 while they highlight the social factors of the risk of COVID-19 infection and as a result they should be in the prioritized groups. Conclusions: Greece and other European States need to re-evaluate and re-assess their vaccination models. This study has shown that the social factors increase the risk of infection for persons with disabilities, therefore the vaccination models should reflect and embody the human-centered approach to medicine.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
COVID-19, UNCRPD, PwDs, Persons with disabilities, Human rights, Preventive vaccination, Vaccination strategy
