UK situation

• Across England, rates of covid cases, patient numbers, hospital admissions, and deaths are all now falling
• Week-on-week infections have now dropped for 18 days in a row
  the longest sequence of declines since February
• Cases are highest in the 10-19 age group and lowest in the 80+ but are now falling in all age groups
• Data from the Office for National Statistics published on Wednesday, showed a rebound in antibody levels in the over-80s to 92 per cent — after a 6% fall since June  — reflecting the impact of the booster campaign

See the most recent UK stats here

In West Lancashire

• The number of covid infections has continued to fall in the Borough.   Over the last 7 days, 393 people have tested positive – a drop of 16% since last week

• The number of patients admitted to Southport and Ormskirk hospital since last week has also fallen by 25%. 

See the situation in your postcode here

Boosters

This week, we reached a positive milestone as more than 10 million people have now received their covid booster in the UK.

Record numbers have booked since the system was changed to allow those eligible to pre-book their appointment five months after their second dose.  

People will still receive their booster vaccine 6 months after their second dose, but the change is speeding up the vaccination programme by allowing people to receive a jab the day they become eligible.

You can book your booster by:

• booking online here
• phoning for free on 119
• finding a walk-in vaccination site here

Vaccinations for 12-15 year olds

The covid vaccine programme for 12 to 15s aims to provide protection and help to reduce transmission to friends and family.

You can find out more here.

Download a useful leaflet for young people from the Public Health England here

You can book your appointment here or phone 119.

Flu vaccination

This is the first year that flu will co-circulate alongside covid-19, so people are being urged to get their flu vaccine to boost their immunity this winter.

Groups eligible for a free NHS flu jab this year include:

• those aged 50 years and over
• children aged 2 to 15
• pregnant women
• care homes residents
• carers
• those in clinical risk groups (aged 6 months to 49 years)
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  
• frontline health and social care staff

Find out how to get yours here

Children's flu vaccines are being delivered through schools and will be administered as a nasal spray. This is free on the NHS.

Find out more here.

If you don’t have symptoms

Anyone in West Lancashire is eligible to free lateral flow tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week.

You can either:

• Collect FREE tests from a symptom free local collection site to use at home later. Find your nearest collection point here. Or

• Order FREE home testing kits online to be delivered to your home, here.

If you have symptoms

You will need to self-isolate and get a PCR test here.

If you have a positive test, you can apply for financial support here.

Where to go for help

If you’re feeling unwell, choosing the right service will make sure you get the best possible advice and treatment as quickly as possible.

Have a look at the handy infographic below and find out more info here.

Men's Mental Health Month

This month, the Mental Health Foundation is focusing on men's mental health.

If you know anyone who is struggling:

• have a look at these useful resources:  www.mentalhealth.org.u...

• or call the mental health helplines:  www.england.nhs.uk/nor...

• and have a look at local organisations providing support in West Lancs:  www.wlcvs.org/community...

Suicide awareness

'You could make the difference – find out if your mate really is ok'

Men are three times more likely to take their life by suicide than women. 

And suicide rates across Lancs and South Cumbria are the third highest in England.

Ex-Premier League footballer, Clarke Carlisle, is backing the latest phase of Lancashire Health and Care partnership's Let's Keep Talking campaign - to encourage more men to open up about their mental health and talk about feelings of suicide

Find out more here and watch the video below: 

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: