Health
1News

Woman suffering chronic illness forced to choose between treatment or vaccine

October 12, 2021

She tried to time her jab around her life saving treatment but couldn’t get priority.

A Christchurch woman has been forced to wait until November to get the Covid vaccine because there were no appointments available when she needed one.

Chronic health patient Cate Grace tried to time her jab around her life saving treatment, but wasn't able to get priority even though she's at greater risk.

Grace struggles with a raft of long term chronic health conditions, primarily rheumatoid arthritis which she says in this current environment “is the most disabling”.

She’s been forced to choose between treatment for her debilitating condition or the Covid jab.

“I had to make a decision whether I wanted to be more disabled or whether I took the vaccination,” she says.

There was a three week window prior to her treatment in July, where specialists believed the Covid vaccination could've been given to Grace safely and effectively.

But it was impossible to get an appointment then, she now needs to wait till November before she can take the vaccine.

“Disabled people are a higher risk group and we need to protect them it's been said, but there hasn’t been an action around that,” says disability advocate Huhana Hickey.

The latest figures show of the more than 30,000 on the roll for disability support and services, over half have been fully vaccinated.

While 76 per cent have had their first dose, of those receiving help by ACC, 50 per cent are double jabbed and 72 per cent have had one.

Disabled Person Assembly advocate, Prudence Walker says it's impossible to know just how many disabled people have been vaccinated.

“This is not the only area we see for disabled people – there’s a lack of data all over,” she says.

SHARE ME

More Stories