Why you should read this article:

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To recognise the need to proactively address the barriers to accessing healthcare that people with learning disabilities may experience

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To learn about the development of a desensitisation programme for people with learning disabilities and a fear of needles to support them to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine

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To consider interventions that you could implement in your practice to support people with learning disabilities to access healthcare interventions

Many people with learning disabilities have a fear of needles and as a result they find receiving injections and vaccinations challenging. Therefore, community learning disability nurses and positive behaviour support practitioners developed a desensitisation programme with the aim of supporting people with learning disabilities who had a needle phobia to receive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. Additionally, reasonable adjustments were made for five individuals who did not have a fear of needles but required a home visit with familiar healthcare professionals who they felt comfortable with. Of the 24 people who engaged in the desensitisation programme, 88% (n=21) received all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 80% (n=4) of five people who were provided with reasonable adjustments received all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This article discusses how and why the desensitisation programme was developed, what worked well, the challenges encountered and other areas where the approaches used could be implemented to support people with learning disabilities with accessing other healthcare interventions.