Hertfordshire Health Matters
Monday 22nd February 2021
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National COVID-19 vaccination updates
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People aged 65-69 are now being invited to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.
This also applies to those who are clinically vulnerable, identified as being in priority cohort 6 (aged between 16-64 years old, with one or more conditions, as defined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation).
GP-led vaccination sites are initially focusing on vaccinating individuals identified as clinically vulnerable. Those aged 65+ can book their appointment via the national booking service (www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination) or by calling 119 free of charge, between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week. These systems allow eligible patients to choose a time slot and location that most suits them. Alternatively, eligible patients can wait to be called by their local GP vaccination service.
Eligible patients must be registered with a GP surgery in England. Please help us to encourage people in your community to get registered. As well as getting access to COVID-19 vaccine, being registered with a GP also means people get invited to important health checks, such as for cancer or heart disease, and can access care easier. More information on registering with a GP is available at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/.
For further information of eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccination, including the clinical conditions list, visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/how-you-will-be-contacted/
If you are eligible for the vaccine and due to attend an appointment, please plan your journey carefully. Wrap up warmly in layers if it’s a chilly day and ensure you wear a top that allows the vaccinator to access the top of your arm easily. When you’re there, follow social distancing guidelines, wear a face covering unless you are exempt, and arrive for the vaccination at the allotted time, not in advance.
A full list of vaccination sites in Hertfordshire and west Essex is on the Healthier Future website: https://www.healthierfuture.org.uk/covid. A list of FAQs are here: https://www.healthierfuture.org.uk/covid/faq. You can also access easy-read materials here: https://www.healthierfuture.org.uk/covid/coronavirus-information-for-people-with-learning-disabilities.
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Last week's #ThankYouThursday social media message from NHS East and North Hertfordshire CCG celebrated the tremendous efforts achievements within vaccination efforts against COVID-19.
Figures released last week show nearly 322,300 people in Hertfordshire and west Essex have been vaccinated with at least their first dose. These statistics include 95% of people aged 70 and over.
From vaccinators to volunteers, firefighters to police officers, council employees and many more, a great deal of hard work has been going on to help better protect our communities from COVID-19. The latest press release about the amazing efforts being made in Hertfordshire and west Essex is here: www.healthierfuture.org.uk/news/2021/february/over-300000-people-vaccinated-in-herts-and-west-essex
Follow the #ThankYouThursday campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can easily spread your very own positive messages to help recognise the hard-work and accomplishments of your family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and wider community members - just use the hashtag #ThankYouThursday, and tag East and North Hertfordshire CCG in your post. Please also share some reflections of your own COVID-19 vaccination experience; whether this be personal or on behalf of a loved one, just email enhertsccg.communications@nhs.net.
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Helping children have a healthy winter
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Some families aren’t always sure what to do or where to go when their child is unwell or when they need urgent care. This can be even more worrying during the pandemic.
The two clinical commissioning groups in Hertfordshire have published a leaflet to help parents and carers spot common winter illnesses, with advice on how they can treat their children at home. As well as clarifying where to go for medical advice, there is information from how to treat colds and earache at home to how to spot serious conditions such as meningitis and sepsis, as well as some information on COVID-19.
Please do share this leaflet where you can and look out for social media posts about it to engage with and share.
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Have your say to help improve lives of disabled people
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To help the development of a National Strategy for Disabled People, a new survey is being shared to help the government better understand the barriers that disabled people face, and what it may need to focus upon to improve the lives of disabled people.
The Cabinet Office’s Disability Unit plans to publish the strategy in the Spring and they need to hear people’s views and experiences, either as a disabled person, a carer or parent or as someone who has an interest in disability issues. The link to the survey is https://disabilityunit.citizenspace.com/cabinet-office/ukdisabilitysurvey/; it should take around 20 to 30 minutes to complete, and can be saved so it doesn’t need to be completed all in one go.
Many people have had big changes in their lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and there will be an opportunity at the end of the survey to say if your life has changed notably due to COVID-19, and in what ways. However, please answer other questions thinking about yourself, your own experiences and your current situation.
For any more information or queries about the strategy and survey, contact ducitizenspace@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
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This week is You Can Care Week! Recognising and celebrating all those who are employed within the care industry, this campaign aims to highlight how rewarding it is to work in the care sector.
Whilst this campaign primarily focuses on home care for the elderly, the term 'carer' can extend more widely than this.
As defined by NHS England: "A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support.". In other words, if you look after someone who couldn't manage without you, you are a carer.
Carers have played a fundamental role throughout the pandemic, demonstrating huge commitments to continue supporting and protecting care-receivers from the impacts of COVID-19.
If you are a carer, or know someone who is, you can find out more about the support that may be available to you here: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Adult-social-services/carers/carers.aspx .
You can follow the You Can Care Week campaign on social media by searching for the hashtag #YouCanCare. To read more about the origins of the campaign, visit: www.homeinstead.co.uk/youcancare/.
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