๐งต The #UKCovidInquiry's first report on ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ has been published.
While it addresses many critical areas, it missed significant issues faced by Clinically Vulnerable (CV) families. Hereโs what you need to know...
1/ #CVAwareness
The reportโs 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/
Key areas missed include:
๐ The lack of tailored guidance for CV families
๐ท Insufficient availability of appropriate PPE for home use
๐ซ 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.
๐ฅ 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
๐ฉโ๐ซ 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/
๐ท 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, itโs 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
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
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 !
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Don't scroll past without ๐ + โป๏ธ... ๐
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- Can you help us to help you?
If you value our work at the Cโvid Inquiry and beyond, your continued support is vital.
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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 Cโvid.
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We have participated in NICE as stakeholders and the inquiry as Core Participants (as the only group representing Clinically Vulnerable people).
๐๐ We have collected evidence as data and thousands of ๐ฌ impact statements from people.
Their response dodges the point.
Because the problem really wasnโt that โI didnโt get the jokeโ.
The problem is who the joke is aimed at and what it encourages most people to laugh at.
2/
If the punchline is โPPE / precautions = anxious / ridiculousโ then people who still need precautions (Clinically Vulnerable people) are the collateral damage.
So it is not about โoffenceโ but creating stigma.
We need to talk about the new @Dawn_French โcomedyโ 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 โprotective outfitโ and face shield, and weโre told itโs because โsince Covidโ theyโve developed โvery, very, very bad health anxiety.โ
2/
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.
As a consequence of our advocacy, national voting guidance has been updated to:
โ Improve ventilation
โ Add air filters
โ โSee a mask, wear a maskโ
* VERY IMPORTANT THREAD *
PLEASE SHARE! 1/
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.
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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!
๐งต 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...
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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/
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.