Joe Mangiacotti on Casefiles from the LPDAM Nov 2021

LPDAM Case Files: Vaccination
JOE:
Sean, how is the COVID vaccination affect people with intellectual disabilities and with mental health
disorders? Does it impact them more than an average person without a disability or disorder?
SEAN:
Joe, this is another great question. These populations within our society have much lower vaccination
rates than the general population. Individuals that are intellectually disabled or suffer from mental
health disorders are often non-trusting of the government, and easily influenced through social media
outlets. They have a tenancy to be drawn into conspiracy theories rather than fact-based decisionmaking approaches. It often drives them and feeds into their specific disability. It is unfortunate that
media outlets push an opinion type news feed rather than fact-based news. I guess it says a lot of
where America is today and the divisions within.
Joe, to answer the second part of your question regarding the vaccination impact on the intellectual
disabled or a person with mental health disorder more than the general population? I would say “YES, it
does.” These populations are more at risk because in general terms, they are vulnerable due to their
disabilities, which causes a low vaccination rate. For example, of people eligible to be vaccinated in
Massachusetts; 55.7% are fully vaccinated. These populations of mental health disorders and
intellectual disabled have a much lower vaccination rate of 21.4%. It is a significant gap between the
general population and the disabled subgroup.
JOE:
Sean, this is helpful when understanding who may not be getting vaccinated and why the vaccination
numbers appear to be stagnant. Is there a way to help these populations understand the value of being
vaccinated?
SEAN:
There is Joe. Being vaccinated needs to be cool! The way it is portrayed now is that the parent, i.e. the
government is telling us all what to do. So, the kids push back and complain. It’s been a tug of war
match since humans inhibited the world. We need to unify on the value of life; the value of someone
with or without a disability. We all matter Joe and most of us want to be a part of something great. This
message hasn’t developed yet through the government or mainstream media and hence, the push back
continues between kid & parent. At LPDAM.org, we get it. We understand how the world works and
how to get fact-based information that stands up in Court. Remember, you’re in good hands with
LPDAM.