Clinically Vulnerable Families ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿ’— Profile picture
Jul 20, 2024 โ€ข 12 tweets โ€ข 5 min read โ€ข Read on X
๐Ÿงต The #UKCovidInquiry's first report on ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ has been published.

While it addresses many critical areas, it missed significant issues faced by Clinically Vulnerable (CV) families. Hereโ€™s what you need to know...

1/ #CVAwareness
The reportโ€™s focus on general preparedness overlooked the specific needs and challenges of CV people.

Our community faced unique risks and often felt abandoned in the early stages of the pandemic. Our exclusion from *this module* (M1) of the inquiry was a glaring oversight.
2/ Clinically Vulnerable Families  are the ONLY Core Participant at the UK Covid-19 Inquiry representing CV / CEV / Immunosuppressed voices  We can:  Access Evidence  Make opening & closing statements  Ask the witnesses questions
Key areas missed include:

๐Ÿ’” The lack of tailored guidance for CV families
๐Ÿ˜ท Insufficient availability of appropriate PPE for home use
๐Ÿซ‚ Inadequate mental health support

CV households had to navigate the crisis alone, compounding their stress and isolation.

3/ #CVAwareness
The report also failed to address the systemic issues in healthcare access for CV people.

๐Ÿฅ Delayed treatments / limited availability of in-person consultations put these vulnerable people at greater risk.

We are in the upcoming Healthcare module (M3).

4/ #CVAwareness The following is the list of Module 3 Core Participants in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. Name of Organisation/Individual Recognised Legal Representative Module Date of Designation Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Elkan Abrahamson (Broudie Jackson Canter) Module 3 2023-01-17 Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru Craig Court (Harding Evans Solicitors) Module 3 2023-01-17 Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Conal McGarrity (P.A Duffy & Co Solicitors) Module 3 2023-01-17 Scottish Covid Bereaved (formerly The Scottish Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice) Aamer Anwa...
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿซ Education was another key area. CV children and those in CV households faced challenges without remote learning / safe schools. The lack of appropriate protective policies disrupted their education significantly.

We hope to have the opportunity to assist the Inquiry in M8.
5/


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๐Ÿ’ท Economic support mechanisms often did not account for the additional costs borne by CV families, such as home delivery charges and increased utility bills due to shielding or informal shielding.

Financial assistance was vital but insufficiently targeted.

6/ #CVAwareness
For future preparedness, itโ€™s vital that the voices of CV people are heard. Our experiences offer valuable insights into creating a more inclusive and effective response framework.

7/ #CVAwareness CLINICAL VULNERABILITY IS AN EQUALITY ISSUE  We are the highest risk of the worst Covid outcomes. Government policy never considered our new needs.  98% of CV people feel healthcare is unsafe [Mar '24]  98%  82% of CV households lost work / retired early due to high Covid risks [Mar '24]  65% of mask wearers have experienced Mask Abuse [Jan '24]  1 in 5 CV families withdrew children from unsafe schools [Sept '22]  Clinically Vulnerable Families
The inquiry must broaden its scope to consider the impact on CV communities in upcoming modules. Ignoring their plight risks repeating the same mistakes in future health crises.

We are still *not* identified in their Equalities and Human Rights statement:

8/ #CVAwareness
Home >  Documents  Equalities and Human Rights statement  Published: 6 July 2023  Type: Publication  Module: Not Applicable  This document explains how the UK Covid- 19 Inquiry will consider any disparities evident in the impact of the pandemic on different categories of people, and how it will adopt the 'PANEL' human rights principles in its work.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry  Embedding equalities and human rights in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry  This document explains how the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will consider any disparities evident in the impact of the pandemic on different categories of people, and how it will adopt the 'PANEL' human rights principles in its work.  Equalities  The terms of reference for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry state that the Inquiry will consider any disparities evident in the impact of the pandemic on different categories of people, including, but not limited to, those relating to protected characteristics under the Equality A...
We have raised concerns to the that we are missing from this statement for a considerable length of time now. Perhaps almost 18 months?

Equity can only be achieved if we recognise that people have different needs and circumstances. #CVAwareness !

9/
For more detailed information on the report, visit the UK COVID-19 Inquiry website.

Share your thoughts with us below.

10/ #CVAwareness
covid19.public-inquiry.uk/reports
If you are interested in contributing to our work and you come from a Clinically Vulnerable household.

STEP 1: Join us on FB



11/ #CVAwarenessfacebook.com/groups/clinicaโ€ฆ
STEP 2: Sign up to our online event to meet our Covid-19 Inquiry legal team on 24th July.

* Apply by Monday 22nd July *
โฌ‡๏ธโฌ‡๏ธโฌ‡๏ธ

โฌ†๏ธโฌ†๏ธโฌ†๏ธ

STEP 3: Keep fighting for #CVAwareness and #CVRights ๐Ÿ’ช

12/ clinicallyvulnerable.org
24 JULY  Meet our our legal legal team  Clinically Vulnerable Families members are invited to meet our Covid-19 Inquiry legal team at 6pm on the 24th July.  - Sign up before 22nd July!  Slater Gordon  Lawyers  Doughty Street Chambers

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More from @cv_cev

Jan 23
โš ๏ธโš ๏ธโš ๏ธ
Don't scroll past without ๐Ÿ’• + โ™ป๏ธ... ๐Ÿ™
๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡

- Can you help us to help you?

If you value our work at the Cโ—‹vid Inquiry and beyond, your continued support is vital.

1/ Clean Air & Safer Access  United Kingdom  St Thomas' Hospital  LEARN to LIVE with COVID  #CLEANAIR  HIGHLIGHTED: Another way to help CVF  Arrow to start your own crowdfunder.  Clinically Vulnerable Families CIC About the project owner  Aim  We urgently need your help to support families by improv providing vital support, and advocating for freedoms.  access,  ยฃ380  Target: ยฃ15,000  2%  4 supporters  42 days left  Donate  Share  Help them get starte  Your support makes a difference  Become a fundraiser for  Clean Air & Safer Access  Start fundraising for this cause โ†’
It is hard to explain how much effort has gone in over the past few years to raise understanding and awareness of issues amplified the emerge of Cโ—‹vid.

2/ #ProtectVulnerableProtesters  CVF logo Image of a masked protester
We have participated in NICE as stakeholders and the inquiry as Core Participants (as the only group representing Clinically Vulnerable people).

๐Ÿ“‰๐Ÿ“Š We have collected evidence as data and thousands of ๐Ÿ’ฌ impact statements from people.

3/ Clinically Vulnerable Families  represent you as a Stakeholder  in the NICE appraisals of Evusheld & Antivirals  We can:  NICE  Comment  Give Evidence  Consult on Draft Guidance
Clinically Vulnerable Families  have been designated as  Core Participants  in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry  We can:  Access Evidence  Make opening & closing statements  Ask the witnesses questions
Read 8 tweets
Jan 21
๐Ÿšจ'Can You Keep a Secret?'. The BBC response is below in full.

In short, it essentially says:
โ€œItโ€™s farcical, sorry we offended you, weโ€™ve noted your complaint.โ€

BUT if you (like us) aren't unhappy with this response, here is our next move... ๐Ÿงต

1/ Thank you for contacting us regarding episode one of 'Can You Keep a Secret?'  'Can You Keep a Secret?' is an adult, farcical and offbeat comedy that follows a couple, William and Debbie, who commit insurance fraud after William takes too much of his medication, is left unconscious, and is mistakenly declared dead.  There was never any intention to make light of infection control or to trivialise the real challenges faced by those affected by Covid-19, including those who are clinically vulnerable. In the scene in question, their son Harry has just learned that his father is still alive, an...
Their response dodges the point.
Because the problem really wasnโ€™t that โ€œI didnโ€™t get the jokeโ€.

The problem is who the joke is aimed at and what it encourages most people to laugh at.

2/ Image
If the punchline is โ€œPPE / precautions = anxious / ridiculousโ€ then people who still need precautions (Clinically Vulnerable people) are the collateral damage.

So it is not about โ€œoffenceโ€ but creating stigma.

3/ Image
Read 10 tweets
Jan 8
Hi @bbccomedy.

We need to talk about the new @Dawn_French โ€œcomedyโ€ series that implies that infection control is a joke.

This is a serious issue, particularly for Clinically Vulnerable people who remain at increased risk, and we are not laughing.
1/
In the first episode, a GP appears in a dramatic โ€œprotective outfitโ€ and face shield, and weโ€™re told itโ€™s because โ€œsince Covidโ€ theyโ€™ve developed โ€œvery, very, very bad health anxiety.โ€

2/ Image of doctor in white coveralls, gloves and a face shield pulling a face and grabbing the sides of the face shield whilst failing to examine a patient effectively.
Then the doctor refuses to get close to the patient, barely touches a wrist, and incorrectly declares them dead.

It invites audiences to mock precautions (during the current flu wave) and suggests that doctors who take measures are less competent.

3/ The doctor briefly grabs the patient's wrist...
Before rapidly pulling their hand away and dropping their arm. Failing to take a pulse, but then declaring the patient dead.
Read 11 tweets
Dec 8, 2025
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, 2025
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, 2025
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

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