Who counts depends on who is counted-II: COVID-19 test and vaccination statuses in relation to excess mortality in 2020/2021 among people with intellectual disabilities

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on society and the health of citizens, and on people with intellectual disabilities in particular. Syndromes causing intellectual disability and overall more fragile health have contributed to more severe illness and death from COVID-19. But deaths from other causes have also increased more sharply among people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the rest of the population. Studies have already been conducted into the possible explanations for thyese differences in mortality, but until now these studies did not have access to test and vaccination data. Research with these basic variables is essential for the most complete picture possible. This can help better understand the causes of excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide more targeted protection to vulnerable groups in future epidemics.