A man has begged the Government to prioritise all people with learning disabilities for Covid vaccines, warning ‘people like me are dying’.

Harry Roch, 32, who has a mild learning disability, is not prioritised for the jab – despite being 30 times more likely to die with the virus.

Research from Public Health England shows people with learning disabilities died with coronavirus at a rate 6.3 times higher the general population during the first wave.

The virus has hit younger people dramatically harder, with mortality rates soaring to 30 times higher for those aged 18 to 34, compared to the same age group without disabilities.

Those with a severe or profound learning disability have been placed in Group Six in the vaccine priority list – but people with a mild or moderate learning disability are not being prioritised at all, despite no evidence they are at any less risk.

Harry has lived in fear of catching the virus for the past year and desperately wants to feel safe again.

He has accused ministers of discrimination, as he is shoved to the back of the vaccine queue, facing the ‘frightening’ prospect of not being vaccinated until the end of the year.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, he said: ‘I’m scared. It’s really frightening hearing that I would be 30 times more likely to die if I caught the virus. 

‘That’s why we need the Government and the NHS to act on this now. It can be done, it’s not too much to ask.’

He continued: ‘I don’t know exactly when I will get the vaccine, it’s likely to be towards the end of the year. I don’t want to wait that long, I want it as soon as possible.

‘It’s getting to the point where more and more people with learning disabilities will die of Covid.

‘Getting the vaccine will make a huge difference to them being able to go out and feel safe. I just want to go out into shops and museums and live normally. I feel left behind.’

A total of 65% of people with a learning disability who died from Covid in the first wave had a mild or moderate one, LeDeR data shows.

A total of 80% of the deaths of people with learning disabilities were coronavirus related in the week ending January 22.

Although he was never told to shield, Harry has stopped going to shops and has stayed away from friends and family since the virus took hold of the country last year.

The young man, who lives with his mum and step-dad in Hertfordshire, is concerned about his mental health as he faces the possibility of several months more of isolation.

He said: ‘Not seeing friends and family has had an effect on my mental health. It’s made me feel lonely.’

Experts say this is not the first time people with learning disabilities have been left behind in the pandemic.

Dan Scorer, head of policy at Mencap, said: ‘People with a learning disability have long been forgotten and discriminated against, and never more so than in this crisis.

‘They have died at greater rates, had Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders slapped on their files and suffered through severe isolation.

‘The services they rely on have been removed and their physical and mental health has suffered – many are struggling to cope.’

Mencap is calling for all people with learning disabilities to be placed in Group Six – bringing their jab in line with adults aged 16 to 65 with clinical conditions.

They estimate including those with mild or moderate learning disabilities would only be an additional 100,000 to 200,000 people.

Mr Scorer has accused the Government of not acting on ‘clear evidence that all people with a learning disability are highly vulnerable’.

He said: ‘While age is understandably the key determinant in the priority list, it doesn’t take into account the fact that a person with a learning disability dies on average over 20 years younger than the general population.

‘Ultimately the medical approach to the priority list is flawed and fails to consider a host of social, economic and health inequalities.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We understand this is a challenging period for many, and the NHS is working hard to vaccinate those most at risk as soon as possible.

‘We are following the advice from independent experts at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on which groups of people to prioritise for Covid-19 vaccines.

‘The Committee advised the immediate priority should be to prevent deaths and protect health and care staff and systems, with old age deemed the single biggest factor determining mortality.’

Professor Wei Shen Lim, COVID-19 Chair for JCVI which advises the Government UK on the priority list, said: ‘The JCVI’s advice on COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible. 

‘As the single greatest risk of death from COVID-19 is older age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.’

PHE added that the report on COVID-19 deaths in people with learning disabilities did not separate out deaths in those with Down’s syndrome or those in residential and nursing care from other people with learning disabilities.

Adults with Down’s syndrome are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and have been put in Group Four.

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