When it comes to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the Government is being urged to prioritise people with chronic and rare diseases.

The call has been made by a coalition of 15 patient organisations, including the Asthma Society of Ireland, Diabetes Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation, Mental Health Ireland and Rare Diseases Ireland.

They have written to the Taoiseach and the chairperson of the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination, urging them to ensure that people with chronic and rare diseases are early recipients of the vaccines.

"We all recognise that, at least initially, there may not be enough vaccines for a widespread immunisation programme. Demand between countries, and within countries, will outstrip supply. Nationally, we will have to prioritise who receives the first allocation of vaccines.

"Allocation must be made on the basis of agreed ethical values and clinical evidence in a transparent and accountable environment, where public, patient and vulnerable group representatives are able to voice the perspectives of the most at risk in our society," commented Kieran O'Leary, CEO of Diabetes Ireland.

According to Derick Mitchell, CEO of the Irish Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry (IPPOSI), many people with chronic and/or rare diseases have been cocooning since the beginning of the pandemic.

"This has had devastating effects for patients and their families - emotional, physical, and financial. These are patients who cannot participate in the 'new normal' in any way, they cannot 'risk it'. They cannot rely on social distancing, on mask wearing, or on hand sanitising. To protect their physical health, they must cocoon or self-isolate - completely, indefinitely, and some alone," he pointed out.

He said that these patients have endured this level of isolation for 10 months now and "it is critical that they not endure this for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary".

"We strongly urge the Government and the High-Level Task Force to consider the needs of some of the most vulnerable in society, of all ages, when making its final decisions as to what groups will receive immediate vaccination priority," Mr Mitchell commented.

Benat Broderick has cystic fibrosis and is a patient advocate for others living with the condition. He pointed out that the pandemic left him with no other choice but to cocoon since early February.

"As others have benefitted from an easing of restrictions or a return to a new normal, I continue to endure a very worrying and draining set of circumstances. My only hope of rejoining society in any meaningful way is access to a vaccine. I therefore fully support the call for patients and vulnerable people to be placed among those in the highest category for vaccination," he said.

The letter to the Taoiseach and the Task Force can be viewed here.