LONDON: The National Health Service (NHS) is urging people who are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine to be among the most at-risk groups and who have not had their injection eventually this week in a renewed campaign as the UK government comes close to the target for vaccination of the main priority groups by Monday.
More than 12 million people in England have now been given a job to protect against coronavirus and the government is expected to extend the criteria to start covering the most vulnerable within the age group over 65.
The milestone comes as government ministers reach out to the community to help fight any confidence surrounding vaccines, with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel working freely at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Bedford, East England, to spread the message among British Indians.
“The vaccine is safe and will protect you and your loved ones – whatever your history,” Patel said.
Meanwhile, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told The Daily Telegraph that he hoped over time the world could live with the deadly virus like the seasonal flu virus.
“I hope COVID-19 becomes a treatable disease by the end of the year,” Hancock told the newspaper.
The minister said new treatments will be important in “turning Covid from a pandemic that affects our whole lives to another illness we need to live with, the way we do the flu. That ‘s where we need to get Covid over the coming months “.
“I am determined that we are protecting as many of the most vulnerable people in our country as possible from this dreadful disease as soon as possible. Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. , ”He said, urging anyone over the age of 70 to receive their first two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech or Oxford / AstraZeneca jobs to come forward at the end- this week.
“People in the priority groups have not lost their chance to get jabbed and if you are 70 years or older and have not yet accepted the offer, please come forward and make arrangements – the vaccine is safe, simple and will provide vital protection for you and those around you from this virus, ”said Professor Stephen Powis, medical director of the NHS.
The four main priority groups, set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), include care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care staff, any 70 or older and people at clinical risk.
These groups have been notified of their respective injections and are now being urged to contact the NHS or the local GPs (GPs) directly if they are not yet receiving the injection. their dose for whatever reason.
Health and social care workers are encouraged to speak to their employer if they have not yet been vaccinated. And teams of doctors have been asked to contact their clinically vulnerable patients to make sure they have been offered an injection.
“We’re working with communities across the country to make sure that, regardless of someone’s history, race or religion, everyone gets the protection they need as long as we continue. fighting this disease together, ”said NHS England.
Nearly 30 ministers are taking part in the joint campaign across all parts of the UK to encourage everyone who is eligible for the vaccine to come forward through meaningful visits and meetings.
It is part of a strategy for the UK government to meet its expanded target of offering the vaccine to all over 50 by May and all adults by September, as an important route. out of locks.
More than 12 million people in England have now been given a job to protect against coronavirus and the government is expected to extend the criteria to start covering the most vulnerable within the age group over 65.
The milestone comes as government ministers reach out to the community to help fight any confidence surrounding vaccines, with UK Home Secretary Priti Patel working freely at Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Bedford, East England, to spread the message among British Indians.
“The vaccine is safe and will protect you and your loved ones – whatever your history,” Patel said.
Meanwhile, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told The Daily Telegraph that he hoped over time the world could live with the deadly virus like the seasonal flu virus.
“I hope COVID-19 becomes a treatable disease by the end of the year,” Hancock told the newspaper.
The minister said new treatments will be important in “turning Covid from a pandemic that affects our whole lives to another illness we need to live with, the way we do the flu. That ‘s where we need to get Covid over the coming months “.
“I am determined that we are protecting as many of the most vulnerable people in our country as possible from this dreadful disease as soon as possible. Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. , ”He said, urging anyone over the age of 70 to receive their first two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech or Oxford / AstraZeneca jobs to come forward at the end- this week.
“People in the priority groups have not lost their chance to get jabbed and if you are 70 years or older and have not yet accepted the offer, please come forward and make arrangements – the vaccine is safe, simple and will provide vital protection for you and those around you from this virus, ”said Professor Stephen Powis, medical director of the NHS.
The four main priority groups, set by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), include care home residents and staff, frontline health and social care staff, any 70 or older and people at clinical risk.
These groups have been notified of their respective injections and are now being urged to contact the NHS or the local GPs (GPs) directly if they are not yet receiving the injection. their dose for whatever reason.
Health and social care workers are encouraged to speak to their employer if they have not yet been vaccinated. And teams of doctors have been asked to contact their clinically vulnerable patients to make sure they have been offered an injection.
“We’re working with communities across the country to make sure that, regardless of someone’s history, race or religion, everyone gets the protection they need as long as we continue. fighting this disease together, ”said NHS England.
Nearly 30 ministers are taking part in the joint campaign across all parts of the UK to encourage everyone who is eligible for the vaccine to come forward through meaningful visits and meetings.
It is part of a strategy for the UK government to meet its expanded target of offering the vaccine to all over 50 by May and all adults by September, as an important route. out of locks.