As part of the Community Champions scheme, West Lancs CVS is working alongside West Lancashire Borough Council to get accurate local COVID-19 information to West Lancs residents and voluntary sector organisations.

Please help us get the word out by passing on this weekly update....

Find out what's happening in your area

In line with the UK trend, covid infection rates in West Lancs have decreased recently. 

However, rates still remain high in some parts of the Borough.  Find out what’s going on in your postcode here

Across West Lancs, over 150,000 doses have been administered since the vaccine programme started.  

Research is showing that the vaccine:

• Reduces severe covid risk and is estimated to have averted approximately 22 million infections and 60,000 deaths across the UK to date.

• Lowers infection rates - the latest REACT-1 study findings are showing COVID-19 infection rates to be three times lower for double vaccinated people. 

• Has boosted antibody protection across the population - the latest ONS data is showing that 93% of the adult population in the NW is testing positive for covid-19 antibodies - a massive increase from just 14% in December 2020.   Much of the increase is being attributed to the vaccination programme.

Where to get your vaccine in West Lancs

• A number of clinics are offering walk-in vaccinations this weekend

• Anyone who is 18 or over is eligible and there is no need to book
  

• The clinics are offering both first and second doses of the vaccines (second doses need to be at least 8 weeks after the first)

Book an appointment at a regular clinic

If the above dates don't suit, you can still book an appointment at the ongoing regular West Lancs vaccination clinics by:

• Booking online through the National Booking Service system
• Booking an appointment by phoning free on 119

Anyone 18 or over can still get their jab (even if they have declined their first invitation) but among those being particularly encouraged to come forward for their vaccines are:

Pregnant women

• This week, England’s top midwife is urging expectant mums to get the COVID-19 vaccine after new data shows the overwhelming majority of pregnant women hospitalised with the virus have not had a jab.
• Recent data showed that 51,724 pregnant women in England have received at least one dose and that no pregnant women with both doses of the vaccine had been admitted to hospital.
• Any pregnant women who have questions or concerns about the vaccine can speak to their GP, midwife or obstetrician to get more information and advice. 
• Have a look at the useful Information sheet and decision aid from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists here

Young people 18-34

• 20% of people being admitted to hospital in England with Covid are aged between 18 and 34. 
• The new Chief Executive of NHS England said this week that around 1,000 young adults were currently "really unwell" in hospital.
• Amanda Pritchard added it was "so important" people came forward to get vaccinated as the level of young adults being admitted to hospital was four times higher than the peak last winter. 
• Read more here.  

Young people 16-17

• This week the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that all 16 and 17-year olds should be added to the list to receive their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

• Those aged 12 to 15 with severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s Syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities, as well as people in this age group who are household contacts of individuals who are immunosuppressed, are already eligible for vaccination.

• Guidance will be issued soon on how those in the youngest age group should access their vaccine appointments.

Getting tested twice a week is the best way to protect those around us.

Getting into the habit of getting tested: 

• before meeting friends
• before inviting people round
• before going to events

will help stop the virus spreading.

Local COVID-19 testing in West Lancs

If you have symptoms

•  you will need to self-isolate and get a test here.

• If you have a positive test, you should immediately self-isolate and if eligible, can apply for financial support here.

If you don't have symptoms

Getting tested twice a week is still crucial to keeping cases down.

You can either:

• Take the test at a symptom free testing site
• Collect tests from a symptom free testing site to use at home later
• Order home testing kits online if you cannot attend a testing site

For information on all testing sites across West Lancs or how to order a test online, go to: westlancs.gov.uk/symptom-freetesting

If you would like a stock of home testing kits to share with the community at community centres, group meetings, church halls, voluntary groups etc, please contact CustomerEngagement@westlancs.gov.uk

Volunteering – can you help?

West Lancs CCG is looking for volunteers to help deliver Oximetry@Home Kits to patients around West Lancs.

If you, or volunteers in your organisation could get involved, please email CustomerEngagement@westlancs.gov.uk

Community Champion grants

Can you help us get the word out?

We are working with West Lancashire Borough Council to get accurate information into the heart of communities and would be grateful if you could pass this on to your networks.

Please join in these efforts by cascading these messages on to your work colleagues, friends and families using the share buttons below: