In February 2021 Whiley's sister Frances, who has learning difficulties and diabetes, was admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus following an outbreak in her care home. Frances, who is two years younger than Whiley, has Cri du chat genetic syndrome. Whiley has publicly campaigned for those in her sister's category to receive priority in the COVID-19 vaccination programme roll-out. She repeated the plea during an interview on BBC's "The Andrew Marr Show," on 21 February 2021. On 24 February it was announced that all who were on the GP learning disability register would be prioritised for a COVID-19 vaccine, meaning that 150,000 people at higher risk with severe disabilities would be offered a vaccination more quickly in England.