Author: Jonathan Buck

Connected Voice’s Haref project has been working with key organisations to produce and share COVID-19 vaccine information. Haref strives for health equality for local Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Communities and the resources are particularly aimed at people from these communities but still useful for all.

Haref recently ran an online information session about the COVID-19 vaccines. This is a 54 minute long recording of the vaccine information session with Kate Vogelsang (NGPS) and Lorna Longworth (Clinical Director) explaining about the vaccines:

• How they are being administered in Newcastle?
• What is in the vaccines?
• How do the vaccines work?
• How will people be notified about getting a vaccine?

Questions from Haref Network members include:

• How do asylum seekers get notified about their vaccine date?
• Do people have a choice of which vaccine to get?
• What side effects might you experience after each vaccine?
• How long after receiving the first injection do you have immunity?

For more information on Haref, go to https://connectedvoice.org.uk/services/haref/haref-network

Friday 12th March 2021

Last night the government set out a roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown:

Tuesday 23rd February 2021

We have been given this information this morning, it is a very tight timescale. If you would like to feedback to the department of health and social care (DHSC) around the Care Act easements please use the form below.

We realise that the form provided by the DHSC is not accessible for all and if you need any support to feedback please contact vicirichardson@disabilitynorth.org.uk

“The Care Act easements introduced by the Coronavirus Act 2020 were intended as a tool to help local authorities continue to meet the most urgent and acute needs in the face of COVID-19, allowing local authorities to prioritise care and support more effectively than is possible under the Care Act 2014, when necessary

After one year, and in accordance with the Coronavirus Act, we must conduct a review

We have previously sought feedback from people with lived experience as well as taken on learning from TLAP’s report on Covid-19, and we are keen to get your views on whether the easements provision should be retained, suspended, or withdrawn from March 2021

Please use this form to provide feedback: https://forms.gle/MoadtV7TjQuUuRCj6

We would appreciate your response by 12pm Tuesday 23^rd February which will help us to shape our recommendation to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.”

Thursday 18th February 2021

“It’s the stuff of nightmares at the moment…I’d give up my vaccine in a heartbeat” Jo Whiley’s sister Frances – who has learning disabilities – lives in a care home where there is a Covid outbreak but she hasn’t been offered a vaccine – although Jo herself has.

“I would give up my vaccine in a heartbeat for my sister and any of the residents in her house” Jo Whiley spoke on BBC Radio 4 today about how people with learning disabilities are still not being prioritised for vaccines. Listen from 1:20 – 1:28: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000s9tk