As we navigate our way through the post-Covid world, it's important to consider the link between infections and outcomes.
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TLDR :
π« Try to avoid catching / spreading infections
π¨ Clean air will help
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.
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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.
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Also, people with Long Covid can become Clinically Vulnerable if they acquire conditions including:
You might have noticed people who have developed a persistent cough.
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According to the final ONS Covid Survey data, Clinically Vulnerable people have a 5.4x increased risk of Long Covid following Covid infections.
π Catching Covid isn't healthy
π It doesn't promote 'natural immunity'
π Living with Covid = constant reinfection
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Going forward, we should consider the following:
π¨ #CleanAir
π· #WearAMask in high-risk, poorly ventilated indoor settings inc. healthcare
π₯ Testing / isolation if symptomatic
π πSupporting equitable access to vaccines around the world
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...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.
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To be honest, this isn't news to any of us who have been following the data. We know the cases spread through the age groups, starting with the kids and then moving on to older generations.
This goes against the government's narrative of returning to school in 2020. When they claimed that children don't catch or spread the virus.
They even paid social media influencers to encourage children to school, and parents to work, prevaccines. 2/ schoolsweek.co.uk/back-to-schoolβ¦
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Following the emergence of vaccines, the reluctance of the JCVI to support the need for children's vaccination in the UK has meant that we have maintained a pool of undervaccinated young people, increasing their risk of @LongCovidKids.
Clinically Vulnerable people (and others wearing masks) will be asked to remove them for the local elections due to new rules on voter ID, potentially putting them at risk.
The Electoral Commission has said people wearing face coverings only need to remove them "momentarily" for ID checks by polling station staff, but we argue that they need to go further to ensure the safety of the Clinically Vulnerable.
The Spring booster campaign brings together the most vulnerable people for their 6 monthly vaccines - which are known to wane after 5m.
This is a highly vulnerable cohort of patients.
One of our Facebook members shares their story:
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It is incredibly worrying that the staff and volunteers at the centre were not wearing masks, particularly when interacting with vulnerable patients. The failure to follow basic infection prevention and control measures places our most vulnerable community at risk.
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Conflicting information provided to the patient about mask-wearing is a concern. Patients should receive clear information about safety protocols where many people are in close contact.
Miscommunication is not only confusing, but it prevents people from making safe choices.
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Let's talk about how public health measures are impacting human rights, specifically for Clinically Vulnerable people and households.
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Masks are a vital protection for those with health conditions. The withdrawal of masks in healthcare is concerning.
Clinically Vulnerable people have lost freedoms and are facing discrimination in: workplaces; schools; court hearings & job centres; without remote options.
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'Personal responsibility' can't replace public health. Clinically Vulnerable people are unfairly burdened to protect themselves, while being denied basic rights.
This breaches their rights under Article 14 of the HRA, which guarantees the right to non-discrimination.
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Decisions presented as *choices* - but with no viable options - have meant that #3Years since lockdown our members continue to live reduced lives.
@RishiSunak's government do not care for vulnerable people & they don't want you to hear us.
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We have lost our JOBS and HOMES.
By not making workplaces safe Clinically Vulnerable people have had to choose between lives and livelihoods.
One in four severely immunosuppressed people reported having lost a job due to the risks from Covid.
Most *chose* to quit.
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We have lost SCHOOLING.
Over half of Clinically Vulnerable Families report being encouraged by schools / local education authorities to withdraw their children from education by threatening fines and prosecutions.