news
If you are a member of a Clinically Vulnerable household and are interested in sharing your experiences in national or local news do contact us.
People with medical allergies can finally get first Covid jab – if they pay £45
14th February 2024
"People with medical conditions and allergies who have been unable to get Covid vaccines will finally be able to access their first jab – but it will cost them £45.
The Novavax vaccine is set to go on sale privately throughout Britain from 1 April this year.
This will mean that those previously unable to obtain the Pfizer or Moderna vaccinations due to potential adverse reactions may now be able to receive a Covid jab because Novavax is a different kind of vaccine."
Parents furious at Government drive to send poorly children to school
11th February 2024
"A Government campaign that encourages parents to send their children to school despite them having a runny nose or stomach ache has been criticised as “patronising, insulting and dangerous”.
Families with serious health issues reacted furiously to the campaign to boost school attendance, accusing the Department for Education (DfE) of “dangerous messaging” that ignored the needs and safety of the clinically vulnerable.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw these attendance ads,” said Michelle Bulloch, the mother of clinically extremely vulnerable twins. "
End of Covid-19 booster programme is alarming, says former actress
31st January 2024
"A woman classed as clinically vulnerable has said she is concerned about the end to the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme.
Sarah Steven, from Buckinghamshire, believes people "need vaccines to protect them all year round because there are no mitigations in place"."
Changes to Covid treatment system in England ‘could lead to postcode lottery’
24th September 2023
"Changes to the way Covid treatments are obtained by those most at risk from the disease could lead to a “postcode lottery” for access, experts have said, with charities saying that patients have been left confused and frustrated by the new system.
Previously, people eligible for Covid treatments in England were contacted by their local Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) once they reported testing positive for the virus."
Covid’s back, you say? As disabled and vulnerable people know all too well, it never went away
10th September 2023
"It is 1.35pm and I’m having to explain coronavirus transmission to a nurse. I am due an appointment at 2.30, and I’ve been phoned because I say I’m clinically vulnerable. I ask whether the nurse has an N95 mask (as they’re proved to be most effective). She does not. I ask whether she and the team are taking weekly lateral flow tests, like her colleague said. She is not, and is unsure why that was promised.
“We don’t need to do that any more,” she says breezily. What she means is: she has no official duty to do so any more. Clinically vulnerable (CV) patients still “need” the Covid-19 protections. They just don’t get them."
Joint COVID and flu autumn booster vaccination programme pushed back
8th August 2023
"NHS England has been criticised for a lack of transparency and communication, with a pharmacist saying the change of plan will likely "catch patients off guard".
NHS England is set to push back the joint COVID-19 and flu autumn booster vaccination programme in a move criticised by clinically vulnerable patients and leading pharmacists.
While school-aged children will be able to receive the flu shot from 1 September, adults aren't expected to start getting flu and COVID vaccines until October, a month later than recent years."
You may have forgotten about Covid – but clinically vulnerable people don’t have that luxury
4th April 2023
"As part of that process, the Covid-19 infection survey has been paused ahead of a review by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). My unease over this has only grown since the last updated was published. I believe this will potentially have a serious knock-on effect for thousands of clinically vulnerable Britons."
Clinically vulnerable ‘absolutely outraged’ as Covid guidance for high risk patients removed from NHS website
24th March 2023
"Lara Wong, founder of campaign group Clinically Vulnerable Families, said the decision was minimising the lived experience of high risk individuals to the point they are not even worthy of a mention."
Strep A: Parents taking clinically vulnerable children out of school early over infection concerns
12th December 2022
"Campaigners said parents were ‘incredibly concerned’ and many felt they had no choice but to risk potential fines and prosecutions by keeping their children home ahead of the end of term"
indie_SAGE - weekly briefing 4th Nov 2022
4th November 2022
"On this briefing, we had a discussion on Covid safety, especially with regard to the #CEV community, with guests Dr Lennard Lee, Lara Wong & Cathy Finnis, hosted by Dr Stephen Griffin & Prof Sheena Cruickshank, chaired by Prof Anthony Costello & numbers by Prof Christina Pagel."
GCSE results: Girl who ‘taught herself’ while shielding to protect her mother feels devastated by her grades
25th August 2022
"Lana Collie-James’ GCSE results are a ‘world away’ from her predicted grades, says her mother Anna who believes her daughter was ‘massively let down’ and that the needs of clinically vulnerable families were dismissed"
indie_SAGE - weekly briefing 29th July 2022
29th July 2022
"On this briefing we had a session on ‘Creating Safe Environments’, with guests Dr. David Tomlinson, Lara Wong and Assc Prof Lena Ciric, session hosted by Prof Trish Greenhalgh & Prof Susan Michie, Dr Guddi Singh as chair & Prof Christina Pagel on numbers."
Clinically vulnerable avoiding hospitals as mask rules relaxed
4th July 2022
"One mum reveals she won't go to hospital for a heart procedure while another vulnerable patient believes removing the mask mandate in clinical settings will not only put people at risk of Covid, but increase staffing pressure on the NHS."
indie_SAGE - weekly briefing 13th May 2022
13th May 2022
"In this briefing, Independent SAGE along with several unions the Covid-19 Safety Pledge & had discussion on how to keep public spaces safe. With guests Janet Newsham, Tracy Edwards, Lara Wong and many others, chaired by Professor Stephen Reicher, hosted by Professor Anthony Costello and numbers presented by Dr. Deepti Gurdasani."
'I Feel Scared': Clinically Vulnerable People Are Struggling To Access Covid Antivirals
6th April 2022
"High-risk patients are being left without the life-saving meds they were told they are entitled to.
People who are were previously told to shield from coronavirus have been unable to access antiviral medications, despite the government’s promise to offer the drugs to those “at highest risk of becoming seriously ill” after testing positive."
Covid isolation rules ending will devastate Clinically Vulnerable Families
9th February 2022
"Campaigners representing clinically vulnerable people have said an end to Covid isolation rules for positive cases will devastate high risk families.
The Prime Minister has announced plans to scrap the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive Covid test result by the end of February."
Boots will sell individual Covid tests for SIX POUNDS from tomorrow but will slash price to £2.50 by April as experts urge ministers to introduce Spain-like cap to stop retailers cashing in
2nd February 2022
"Boots became first retailer to announce it will offer private lateral flow tests, starting at £5.99 from tomorrow
Calls among experts for price cap over profiteering fears with swabs costing £1 to manufacture domestically
Already test cost limits in Spain, France and Portugal, with Spanish Government setting a ceiling of just £2.45"
Contact us for more information from the Clinically Vulnerable Families UK Media Center.