Covid vaccines pass 250,000 mark in Northamptonshire

Covid vaccines pass 250,000 mark in Northamptonshire More than a quarter of a million Covid jabs have been delivered across Northamptonshire as the great vaccine roll-out rumbles on.

Latest NHS figures revealed 253,517 people — nearly 40 per cent of the target population — had received at least a first dose of the life-saving vaccine by March 7. Northampton Chronicle and Echo

See also:

• ‘No doubt’ further waves of Covid will occur - what the UK’s national statistician said Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Some European countries suspend rollout of Oxford Covid jab - but regulator says it is safe Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Every £10,000 Covid fine issued in Northamptonshire to date is being fought in court Northampton Chronicle and Echo
• Corby lagging behind rest of Northamptonshire in Covid vaccination rates Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Lakeside Corby patients told more Covid jabs are on their way Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Here's how families of school children can access Covid tests to take at home Northamptonshire Telegraph
• Covid cases are rising in 75% of European countries - here's how the UK compares Northamptonshire Telegraph
• WHO gives approval for Johnson & Johnson single dose Covid vaccine - what it means for UK Northamptonshire Telegraph

Taking your approach to population health and tackling health inequalities to the next level

Taking your approach to population health and tackling health inequalities to the next level Tackling health inequalities is one key aspect of population health and an increasingly important priority for health and care. Health inequalities existed long before the seminal Black report (1980) or subsequent reports by Acheson (1998) and Marmot (2010), and they continue to persist today. The Covid-19 pandemic has served as a stark signal, highlighting and exacerbating inequalities, and stressing the urgent need for effective population health efforts that strongly focus on tackling them. The King's Fund

The other pandemic: the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s mental health

The other pandemic: the impact of Covid-19 on Britain’s mental health In February 2021 Public First polled 4,000 people and held 12 in depth focus groups with people from across Britain. The findings, published in this report, show that coronavirus has taken on mental health in all parts of society – but especially women, the less well-off and young people. Public First

Understanding vulnerability to online misinformation

Understanding vulnerability to online misinformation Several large-scale research projects have started during the pandemic with the aim of understanding the nature, prevalence and spread of health-related misinformation online. However, relatively little is known about who is vulnerable to believing false information and why. This research report used a survey and assessments to understand which individuals are most vulnerable to believing health-related falsities and the role played by the content that individuals are exposed to. The Alan Turing Institute 

Cancer won't wait: building resilience in cancer screening and diagnostics in Europe based on lessons from the pandemic

Cancer won't wait: building resilience in cancer screening and diagnostics in Europe based on lessons from the pandemic The ongoing impact of Covid-19 on health services across Europe has in most cases led to significant reductions in cancer screening, testing and diagnosis. Responses in individual countries have differed, but there are common challenges in all countries. This report highlights some of the approaches already being taken, as well as suggestions for what should be done going forward. It considers different stakeholders – from local pharmacies to national and international organisations – and their roles, as well as multi-stakeholder collaboration and cooperation. Please note that free registration is required to access this report. The IQVIA Institute

NHS staff survey 2020

NHS staff survey 2020 This resource presents results from an annual survey to collect staff views and experiences about working in their NHS organisation. NHS England

See also:

• The government must translate praise for NHS staff into practical support and investment to help them recover The Health Foundation
• Burnt-out staff: The King's Fund responds to NHS staff survey The King's Fund
• Troubling responses from nurses: Nuffield Trust response to NHS Staff Survey Nuffield Trust
• NHS poll shows rising toll of work stress on staff health The Guardian
• More than 4 in 10 NHS staff ‘made ill by stress’ during pandemic The Independent

Health charities back vaccines drive for those at risk

Health charities back vaccines drive for those at risk People with underlying conditions including cancer, diabetes and heart disease are encouraged to come forward for a Covid-19 vaccine by leading UK health charities. Department of Health and Social Care

See also:

• Detailed guide: The R value and growth rate in the UK Department of Health and Social Care
• NHS text drive to invite millions at risk for lifesaving COVID jab NHS England
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants identified in UK Public Health England
• JCVI advises prioritising homeless people and rough sleepers for COVID-19 vaccine Public Health England

Covid-19: Evidence does not suggest AstraZeneca jab linked to clots, MHRA says

Covid-19: Evidence does not suggest AstraZeneca jab linked to clots, MHRA says People should still get their Covid vaccine despite several EU countries pausing use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab amid concern about blood clots, the UK medicines regulator has said.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said evidence "does not suggest" the jab causes clots. BBC News

See also:

• Response to Irish authorities’ action to temporarily suspend the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine MHRA
• Covid-19: Netherlands suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine BBC News
• What happens if I don't get the Covid vaccine? BBC News
• Covid: UK Biobank scans aim to reveal health legacy BBC News
• Covid vaccine: Homeless people to be prioritised BBC News
• Covid-infected pregnant women are 18 times more likely to go to intensive care, study shows The Daily Mail
• Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine offers 97% protection, Israel study finds The Daily Mail
• Novavax vaccine found to be 86% effective against UK Covid strain in late-stage trial The Daily Telegraph
• Four new cases of Brazilian variant identified in UK The Daily Telegraph
• Covid trauma will drive intensive care staff out of NHS, warns charity The Guardian
• Why are countries suspending AstraZeneca vaccine rollouts? Everything we know so far The Independent
• UK’s coronavirus vaccines dramatically cut transmission, new study suggests The Independent

Psychedelic therapy could 'reset' depressed brain

Psychedelic therapy could 'reset' depressed brain A powerful hallucinogenic drug known for its part in shamanic rituals is being trialled as a potential cure for depression for the first time.

Participants will be given the drug DMT, followed by talking therapy.

It is hoped this could offer an alternative for the significant number of people who don't respond to conventional pills for depression. BBC News

Sunak defends budget plans and insists 1% rise for NHS staff is fair

Sunak defends budget plans and insists 1% rise for NHS staff is fair Rishi Sunak has rejected criticism that his budget plans to repair the government’s finances after Covid-19 were unrealistic, and insisted a 1% pay rise for NHS staff is fair.

The chancellor said the pay offer, alongside plans for a wider public sector pay freeze, was “proportionate, fair and reasonable” given the damage to the government’s finances caused by the pandemic and as many workers in the private sector have lost their jobs. The Guardian

See also: 

• NHS nurses could get a 3 PER CENT pay rise under No10 peace plans The Daily Mail
• Boris Johnson resists calls to correct claim in NHS pay row The Guardian
• Ministers 'considering one-off bonus' for frontline NHS staff after outrage at nurses' 1% pay rise iNews

Record 4.6million people are now on NHS waiting list in England

Record 4.6million people are now on NHS waiting list in England NHS England data show that more people than ever are waiting for operations or waiting too long for cancer appointments as the health service scrambles to work through its backlog. The Daily Mail

See also:

• 'Roughly 1 in 12 people in England are awaiting NHS treatment' The King's Fund
• Nuffield Trust: Significant pressure building up as waiting list exceeds record numbers Nuffield Trust
• Covid-19: NHS waits at record high as second wave hits care BBC News
• 50,000 fewer men were urgently referred for suspected prostate cancer during pandemic The Daily Mail
• NHS England waiting times reached record high in January The Guardian
• More than 300,000 NHS patients waiting over a year for routine surgery The Independent