Clinically Vulnerable Families ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’— Profile picture
May 7, 2023 โ€ข 11 tweets โ€ข 4 min read โ€ข Read on X
๐Ÿต THE COVID CYCLE โ™ป๏ธ

As we navigate our way through the post-Covid world, it's important to consider the link between infections and outcomes.

1/๐Ÿงต

TLDR :
๐Ÿšซ Try to avoid catching / spreading infections
๐Ÿ’จ Clean air will help THE COVID CYCLE   Diagram: ...
While you may well start off healthy, anyone can become Clinically Vulnerable at some point in their life, making them more susceptible to severe infections.

Take it from us, it isn't particularly fun - and frequently, our lives feel less valued.

2/ Diagram :  Healthy person  ...
Covid infections or repeat infections of healthy people can lead to Long Covid*, where people experience prolonged symptoms and conditions including: fatigue, brain fog and respiratory issues.

* Some data suggests that up to 1 in 10 infections result in long-term symptoms.

3/ Diagram :  Healthy person  ...
Also, people with Long Covid can become Clinically Vulnerable if they acquire conditions including:

๐Ÿซ Chronic respiratory conditions
๐Ÿซ€ Cardiovascular diseases
๐Ÿ’‰ Diabetes
๐Ÿง  Neurological complications

You might have noticed people who have developed a persistent cough.

4/ Diagram:  Healthy with arro...
According to the final ONS Covid Survey data, Clinically Vulnerable people have a 5.4x increased risk of Long Covid following Covid infections.

๐Ÿ’™ Catching Covid isn't healthy
๐Ÿ’œ It doesn't promote 'natural immunity'
๐Ÿ’— Living with Covid = constant reinfection

6/ Diagram:  Healthy with arro...
Vaccination has been a crucial tool in breaking the Covid cycle and protecting lives.

Highly vaccinated countries are experiencing lower mortality despite the virus not actually being milder.

7/
However, we mustn't forget that Covid continues to claim far too many lives.

Anyone can be at risk, and we are all 3 years older and 3 years more vulnerable.

8/ Diagram  Clinically Vulnera...
To further break the Covid cycle, we need clean air as Covid spreads in aerosols.

We mustn't simply accept ~6 peaks a year as new variants continue to rip through the global community. It places a continuous burden on struggling health services. It is not 'flu.

HT - @jneill
9/ Image
No one wants to see more people suffering from Long Covid or losing their lives.

While the Covid cycle may be here to stay, we can't simply accept current rates of infection and reinfection.

10/
Going forward, we should consider the following:

๐Ÿ’จ #CleanAir
๐Ÿ˜ท #WearAMask in high-risk, poorly ventilated indoor settings inc. healthcare
๐Ÿฅ„ Testing / isolation if symptomatic
๐ŸŒ ๐Ÿ’‰Supporting equitable access to vaccines around the world

11/
...and for anyone who thinks that young children can't or shouldn't be tested, there are saliva 'lollypop' tests that are accurate and trouble-free.

Parents in our Facebook group have been very happy with them.

12/ Image

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More from @cv_cev

Dec 8
๐Ÿฅณ This is a HUGE win for CVF!

- Safe access to public buildings is a right!

As a consequence of our advocacy, national voting guidance has been updated to:
โœ… Improve ventilation
โœ… Add air filters
โœ… โ€œSee a mask, wear a maskโ€

* VERY IMPORTANT THREAD *
PLEASE SHARE!
1/ Support for clinically vulnerable electors - alongside increasing ventilation of the room either through opening windows or doors or using HEPA filters where windows or doors cannot be kept open, you can ensure face masks are provided for polling station staff to use (using see a mask, wear a mask as a basis) and promote the use of social distancing when interacting with clinically vulnerable voters. Your staff training should cover how you can offer to conduct photographic ID checks for mask wearers, including whether checks could be conducted outside for these voters if photographic ID is...
6 years since Covid emerged, we are finally making important changes... thanks to your help!

The new guidance not only recognises our needs - due to heightened health risks - but also the risks posed by mask removal.

2/ polling station staff not having awareness of health risks when asking a clinically vulnerable voter to remove a face mask in order to check photographic ID  The Electoralย Commission
Why is this so important?

- It is the first national guidance to address our issues directly.... and it sets an important precedent that we plan to build on!

3/ Read more:
clinicallyvulnerable.org/post/how-cliniโ€ฆ
Read 7 tweets
Dec 3
A letter just landed on Baroness Hallettโ€™s desk from CATA (Covid Airborne Transmission Alliance).

If you are a patient, an NHS worker, or Clinically Vulnerable... or you want to see safety measures updated - you need to see this!

1/
The Covid Inquiry is there to help us to learn lessons and change how we plan for pandemics.

But, NHS England quietly published a strategy (July '24) that says:

it will not be possible to halt the spread of a new pandemic virus, and it would be a waste... to attempt to do so
2/ See Appendix 5  https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/framework-for-managing-the-response-to-pandemic-diseases/#appendix-5-planning-assumptions
That clashes with Hallettโ€™s recommendation:

"risk assessment that moves away... reasonable worst-case scenarios towards... a wider range of scenarios"

But their plan assumes mass infection is inevitable and acceptable.

For some, it isnโ€™t survivable!
3/
Read 11 tweets
Nov 8
๐Ÿงต This autumn the UKHSA is rightly worried, as 'flu is a real risk...

TLDR:
Clinically Vulnerable people ALL need 'flu vaccines + antivirals this year (if symptomatic or exposed) + confused infection control guidance.

If you are Clinically Vulnerable, please read on...

1/ Graph showing the early rise of flu in the UK.
This year's strains aren't looking good:

The infections have started earlier.
A(H3N2) strains are dominant - and linked to worse outcomes.
A shifted strain (slightly different to vaccines) is also doing the rounds.

2/ Summary:  Influenza is now circulating in the community with earlier than usual onset of activity in the 2025 to 2026 season, and with an A(H3N2) drifted strain (K, also known as J.2.4.1) predominating  A(H3N2) predominance is associated with higher morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly, than when A(H1N1) predominates  All eligible groups should be encouraged to get vaccinated with the 2025 to 2026 seasonal influenza vaccine as soon as possible  Prompt antiviral post exposure prophylaxis and treatment for seasonal influenza should be offered to eligible groups  Antivirals gui...
If you have been invited for a vaccine, or live with a Clinically Vulnerable person (but don't qualify) please consider getting a vaccine - they can be as cheap as ยฃ9.95.

Everyone benefits from 'flu vaccines and children (up to 16) are offered them for free in school.

3/ Image of a banner outside a shop. A pharmacist is on the picture. She is has black straight hair, brown eyes, a big smile and is wearing a cream suit jacket with a staff badge.  Superdrug  *REMINDER!!!  IT'S FLU VACCINATION SEASON  Flu Jab Service provided by our healthcare professionals  Noyne Pharmacist  MEMBER PRICE ยฃ9.95  NORMAL PRICE ยฃ19.95  MEMBERS SAVE MORE  Service available here  Help protect yourself against several strains of the flu this season with one simple visit in-store. ูˆูˆ
Read 10 tweets
Oct 23
CVF๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’—'s Closing Statement

โš ๏ธSAFE
- Schools must be made safe.

๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸซSUPPORT
- Children must be given appropriate support to continue their education at home.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธSTATUS
- Clinical Vulnerability must be recognised as aย distinctย group in the Equality Act.

1/ @AdamWagner1 KC
โš ๏ธSAFETY
"There is good evidence that many schools can be made safer for Clinically Vulnerable children and those in Clinically Vulnerable families."

Ventilation is uncontroversial!

2/
Ventilation works!

"There is sufficient evidence and consensus now for the Inquiry to recommend that clear air is prioritisedย inย schools"

3/
Read 7 tweets
Oct 21
๐ŸšจBoris Johnson - Children & Young People

Message to Gavin : 6/7/20
GW "need to push on the push compulsary attendance, and the message of normality"

AW "[You] encouraged him to continue the job.

Would you agree this was months before the vaccine...?"
BJ "Yes"
1/ @AdamWagner1
AW "Do you think in that race to return to normality [summer 2020] Clinically Vulnerable families may have been left behind?"

BJ "Getting back to school... would have been the best for all C&YP, CV or not."

2/
Johnson knew it would endanger our lives!!!

AW "It was sometimes not safe"

BJ "There was always going to be an argument... from that position... you were going to create a situation in which Vulnerable parents would be exposed to the virus picked up by kids in schools."

3/
Read 14 tweets
Oct 20
๐ŸšจWhitty is on the stand today... follow this thread.

CTI "What about children who lived with parents who were still at risk...?"

Whitty "The risk to shielding adult... will be increased somewhat, but the risk to the child... scarring their life chances indefinitely."

1/
CW "Risk-benefit taking a child-centred approach, was to prioritise the needs of the children.

I don't think [there is] convincing evidence, that was with the benefits of hindsight, an incorrect judgement."

- Don't the needs of the children include not killing their parents?
2/
CTI "But looking at if from the perspective of a child who might be a very difficult position... to be in."

CW "The need to have a conversation with the doctor [or nurse] their family know."
___

How would these conversation reduce risks?
Wouldn't it waste the time of HCWs?
3/
Read 23 tweets

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