Humber, Coast and Vale key messages - w/c 1st November 2021 How to stay safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19

1st November 2021

Humber, Coast and Vale key messages - w/c 1st November 2021

Covid-19 cases are on the rise in many of our communities so it’s really important that we continue to take steps to reduce our chances of catching on passing on the disease.

Wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces and when you visit healthcare facilities (unless medically exempt); get vaccinated to reduce the harm if you do catch the virus; and take regular Covid-19 tests (take a PCR test if you have symptoms; use a lateral flow test if symptomless). 

If you develop Covid-19 symptoms you must self-isolate immediately and take a PCR test even if you’ve had a Covid-19 vaccine: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. You should self-isolate at home while you book the test and wait for the results. You must self-isolate for 10 days if you test positive.

Rapid lateral flow testing twice a week (free of charge) increases the chances of detecting Covid-19 when a person is infectious, helping to make sure you don’t spread Covid-19: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If you feel unwell but do not have Covid-19 symptoms, or your Covid-19 test is negative, you may still have an illness which could be passed on to other people. Staying at home until you feel better reduces the risk that you will pass on an illness to others and will help reduce the burden on our health services.

Meeting outdoors vastly reduces the risk of airborne transmission of Covid-19, but this may not always be possible. If you’re indoors, you should let fresh air in to reduce the risk of catching or spreading Covid-19.

Find out how to stay safe and prevent the spread on the gov.uk website

Covid-19 and Flu vaccination 

Covid-19 vaccine doses are being administered to children aged 12-15 in school in Humber, Coast and Vale; and every school in the region will receive a visit from providers by the end of November.

Nationally a letter has been sent to all parents of eligible children aged 12-15 with details regarding the programme and consent process.

In order to support this in-school immunisation programme, a secondary offer is being established across the country. Other options are being set up across Humber, Coast and Vale for 12–15-year-olds to obtain a Covid-19 vaccination.

Booster doses are available to people aged 50 years and over, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19, people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from Covid-19. People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

You can book your Covid-19 booster vaccine dose online if you are a frontline health or social care worker. You can also book your booster dose online if you have been contacted by the NHS and you are either: aged 50 and over, or aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from Covid-19.

If six months has passed since your second Covid-19 vaccine dose you can book an appointment to have your booster dose via the national booking service without having to wait for a text or letter.

If you’re aged 16 and over you can: book your Covid-19 vaccination appointments via the national website for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy; find a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment; or wait to be contacted by your GP surgery and book your appointments with them.

This year, it’s more important than ever for eligible people to have their free flu vaccination to protect themselves and others. Having the flu vaccine takes on more importance because more people are likely to get flu this winter as there were less cases of flu last year due to lockdown and social distancing, so fewer people will have built up immunity.

You qualify for a free flu vaccination if you are: aged 50 and over (including those who turn 50 by 31st March 2022), have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, living in a care home, a carer, a frontline health or social care worker, living with someone who is more likely to get infections, a child aged 2-3, or at primary school or in secondary school years 7-11. 

You can have the NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, a pharmacy, your midwifery service if you're pregnant, or at a hospital appointment.