Charities unite in drive to boost take-up of vaccination among long-term ill

A GROUP of 16 charities have joined forces to urge people with long-term health conditions, and their carers, to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Diabetes UK chief executive Chris Askew said that “the best protection against coronavirus is to get the vaccine and take whichever vaccine you are offered”.

Meanwhile, African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust co-founder Orin Lewis said he was backing the drive because decisions need to be made “with knowledge of the verified facts and the science behind the vaccine”.

The British Heart Foundation,

Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap are among those who are hoping to boost the uptake of the vaccine.

Asthma UK, British Liver Trust, British Lung Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Carers UK, Epilepsy Action, Kidney Care UK, Lupus UK, MS Society, Sickle Cell Society and the Terrence Higgins Trust have also pledged to promote the vaccine rollout.

The aim is for the charities to tap into their combined networks to give reassurance about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

They will each feature a campaign video showing people in cohort six getting their jab on their individual channels, and will have speakers who are promoting the cause.

Since February 15, those in cohort six – which includes people with certain underlying health conditions and their carers – have been getting invitations from their GPS to come forward for their first Covid-19 jab.

Cohort six covers those aged 16 to 64 with certain long-term conditions identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation as being at higher clinical risk from Covid-19.

Among those in this category are those with chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver disease and neurological conditions, including MS and epilepsy, vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen, morbid obesity, severe mental illness, as well as sickle cell, lupus and those on GP learning disability registers.

Cohort six also includes carers who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or primary carer of a clinically vulnerable elderly or disabled person who is at an increased risk of dying with Covid-19.

Mr Lewis said: “Far too many lives have already been lost, however now there is a real opportunity for positive change especially on behalf of patients with immuno-suppression systems linked to stem cell, blood and organ related disorders.

“We feel extremely passionately people should seriously consider protecting themselves, their loved ones and society at large.

“When they do make that decision, they need to ensure it’s an informed one based upon verified facts and not myths, fears and taboos.”

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the backing of the charities is a “a great boost”.