With the recent warmer weather and the summer with more freedom, it might be easy to think that the pandemic is behind us. London currently has the lowest COVID-19 Fall rate a region of England, but people are gathering for the fall with the return of schools, universities and jobs.
While coronavirus transmission rates remain high overall, it is time to be vigilant and make sure we are fully prepared for the potentially challenging months ahead. Coronavirus restrictions in place last year have resulted in suppressing many of the common winter viruses such as the flu, norovirus and RSV.
COVID-19 vaccines save lives
Vaccines remain the most powerful and effective remedy for serious illness and death from COVID-19, and have been shown to be effective against many of the new variants of the virus that have emerged in the last year. An important part of preparing for the upcoming winter season is making sure we keep increasing population coverage and vaccine uptake, and the recent announcements about that Booster program and vaccination offer 12-15 years old are welcome.
While we have made great strides in rolling out the vaccine program in London, we need to go further to ensure high adoption across all ages, communities and neighborhoods. London, like other large metropolitan areas with younger, more diverse, disadvantaged and mobile populations, generally has lower vaccine uptake for children and adults compared to other regions, and this was no different with COVID-19 vaccines. All over the UK Over 80% of people aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated, compared to only 60% in London.
Because of the somewhat mixed picture of vaccine uptake across the city, protection from the serious illness and death caused by the virus this winter is likely to be inconsistent. the Vaccination data is clear; only 1.2% of COVID-19-related deaths between January and July this year occurred in people who received both doses of the vaccine. Although the number of cases in London has been stable over the past few weeks, the average number is daily infections is ten times higher than this time last year. We are therefore moving into winter from a higher base, and it is important to bolster our immunization coverage across the city as this will be our strongest line of defense.
Address vaccine hesitation
We know that the difference in risk of death between ethnic groups can largely be explained by demographic, geographic, and socio-economic factors, often through limited trust and engagement in public health services, poor access to health care, and lower confidence in safety and effectiveness The vaccine may be amplified due to common myths and misinformation. It is for this reason that we continue our commitment to working with the London communities to provide reliable and accessible health and vaccine information during this period to ensure that every Londoner can make an informed choice and have easy access to the vaccine for everyone Protecting our communities and leaving no one behind.
We now have the research, experience, and tools to ensure the vaccine is safely delivered to those who need it. Since the pandemic began, we’ve listened to our communities to understand how and where they like to access information. A common approach with our partners in London to consistently share information was crucial. Over the summer, we worked with young Londoners, the NHS and the team from the Mayor of London at the Greater London Authority to understand the barriers facing 20-25 year olds in the capital who are receiving their COVID-19 vaccine , and how to overcome them.
Young adults said they wanted to have open and honest conversations to shape their decision, but away from vaccination centers and in creative spaces with like-minded people. Together we who helped shape “London, You Good?”. Project and supported over 30 local community organizations in more than 20 counties to host events through music, sports, film, dance and other activities. This brought young Londoners from across the city together to answer their questions about the vaccine and discuss the significant impact the pandemic had on their lives and mental health.
Keep getting vaccinated, London
Every day, the uptake of the COVID vaccine continues to increase as thousands of Londoners get their vaccinations at primary care practices, vaccination centers, local community pharmacies and vaccination centers. However, we still have a long way to go to achieve high vaccination coverage in every corner of the city and in all eligible age groups. It has been an immense effort by everyone involved, but adoption has slowed and rates are particularly low among young men from economically disadvantaged communities, as well as young men from the Black Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa from all backgrounds. We need the Londoners to continue efforts – getting vaccinated, booster vaccinations when they are eligible, and encouraging young people to get vaccinated too.
Stay safe this winter
It’s important to remember that as winter pressures rise, the direction of the pandemic could change rapidly, and so new guidance like the government’s Winter plan and the chief physicians recommendation to expand vaccination to all 12-15 year olds, try to keep up so we can keep the pandemic under control. Rising rates could call for a return to more stringent measures, including wearing masks, working from home, and getting vaccine certification. The road to recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint, and unfortunately this is not an issue that will go away overnight.
Even through the fall and winter, we continue to advise people to stay cautious and keep up to date with the latest news and information. Continue to wear face coverings in crowded areas and on public transport, ventilate Indoor areas, test yourself out twice a week Lateral flow devices, and get a PCR test and stay home if you have symptoms.
If you have not yet received your vaccine or your second dose, please report as soon as possible so that London has the best protection and a chance to keep life safe this winter. Give yourself and your loved ones the best protection from the most devastating effects of this disease. The vaccination offer remains open to all beneficiaries and there is no missed opportunity. So if you’ve left it for a while, it’s not too late! Book your vaccination appointment today or find a walk-in Vaccination site.
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Reference: ukhsa.blog.gov.uk