Yesterday, @lara_wong, took the stand as founder and leader of CVF.
**Sorry for the delay!**
- New risks posed by Covid-19
- We need to be recognised as an equality group.
1/ FOLLOW THIS THREAD
Clinically Vulnerable people were, and are still, being let down.
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The lack of infection prevention and control in vaccination centres for an airborne virus was very concerning.
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People who had multiple conditions or rare diseases were not in clearly defined groups and had to fight for their own eligibility.
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Good examples of vaccination centres:
๐ Drive through
๐ Tented (very well ventilated)
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People were never informed on how to reduce their risks using better, close fitting masks such as FFP3 or FFP2s.
Some people were asked to remove better masks. 6/
Third Primary doses.
These were hugely problematic, because people were often aware that they were eligible. They also had to prove that they did qualify and they were not told how to do this.
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Problems with the recording of doses in the NHS computer system.
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Therapeutics (antivirals)
Hugo Keith KC, asked about issues with the range of antivirals available.
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There was a need for different antiviral treatments.
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The importance of Evusheld and the impact on the severely immunosuppressed.
The consequence of not protecting them was phenomenal:
๐ Mental health
๐ Social connections
๐ Ability to re-engage with the rest of the world
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The lack of the UK government's action left severely immunosuppressed people essentially locked up without any route out.
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People who are severely immunosuppressed have a greater reliance on antiviral treatments.
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Severely immunosuppressed people are invited twice a year in order to improve their immune response, and the vaccines are beneficial for the majority.
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Hugo Keith KC lays out concern around antiviral clinical trials.
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Concerns that some people were invited on clinical trials with a 50% chance of treatment when they already had been given emergency approvals.
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The importance of children's vaccines to Clinically Vulnerable families.
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It was incredibly difficult for children in Clinically Vulnerable families who were left waiting for their vaccines because they were not priortised.
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Misinformation / disinformation
The wider community - there is a clear knock on from people not taking up their vaccines if it is undermined.
Clinically Vulnerable people are not immune to these messages.
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CVF do appreciate how accessible the Covid Inquiry venue is and the efforts of inquiry staff to impleme measures to reduce the risks for Clinically Vulnerable people who attend.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.