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Home , Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Hemel Hempstead, Letchworth, Watford, Watford Town Hall

Hertfordshire Local Resilience Forum Stakeholder Update – 25 June 2021

A message from Darryl Keen, Director of Community Protection, Chief Fire Officer and Chair of the strategic coordination group of the LRF

Dear colleague,

More than 1.3million doses of a COVID vaccine have now been given to residents and I would like to thank everyone involved in helping us to reach this significant milestone.

We can’t afford to rest however, until all of our eligible residents and our workforce have been supported to have both doses of the vaccine. Nationally, coronavirus cases have risen to their highest level since early April, when lockdown restrictions first began to be lifted. But figures indicate the vaccination programme is making a significant difference and breaking the link between cases and hospitalisations. Please play your part by sharing the information in this briefing with your friends, colleagues and networks.

Vaccine update

There’s a big push on getting people vaccinated as the summer approaches, to make sure as many people are protected as soon as possible. It’s easier than ever to get the vaccine, with more appointments available on the National Booking System, pop-up and walk-in clinics and super-sized ‘grab-a-jab’ sessions this weekend.

‘Super Sunday’ Pfizer vaccination event at FC

This Sunday (27 June) the NHS, Watford Council, Watford FC and a host of supporting organisations are holding a super-sized vaccination clinic at Watford FC’s stadium in . The Pfizer vaccine will be on offer to anyone 18+ from Watford and the wider Hertfordshire area who has not yet had a vaccine. Attendees have the option to book in advance through this webpage: https://www.watford.gov.uk/super-sunday or just turn up on the day.

There will be entertainment and refreshments available for anyone in the queue and people fluent in a number of languages spoken in the local area will be on hand to help the public. Nobody will be required to show ID and people don’t have to be registered with a GP to attend.

Please share these details widely. The venue has the capacity to vaccinate more than 3,000 people on the day, between 10am and 9pm.

People in the Watford area who need their first or second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccination can go to on Sunday – see our vaccination micro-site for more details.

‘Pop-up’ vaccination clinic at Borough Council offices (AstraZeneca and Pfizer)

Over 18s from in and around Broxbourne, and are being encouraged to get their vaccine at the pop-up clinic being held at Broxbourne council offices in Cheshunt on Sunday 27 June from 12-3pm. More details are available here.

Keep up to date with the latest walk-ins

All the details about the latest walk-in sessions at vaccine centres across Hertfordshire and west are available online: https://covid.healthierfuture.org.uk/events/vaccination-walk-in-clinic- times

This weekend alone there are walk in vaccination sessions in , , , Loughton, and Garden City, with many more opportunities in the week ahead.

Anyone who would rather book a guaranteed appointment should go to the National Booking Service or ring 119.

Second doses for over 40s

It’s now easier to change your appointment on the National Booking System and bring your second dose forward if you’re aged 40+. Anyone who had their first dose at least eight weeks ago, is encouraged to get their jab as soon as possible be logging on to the National Booking Service, where they’ll be able to see alternative appointments so they can re-schedule their second dose, or alternatively go to one of the walk-in sessions being held locally.

Vaccine site changes

Letchworth: The former Da Vinci School vaccination centre has closed this week and opened in the former Argos building in the town centre.

Cheshunt: The Halsey Hall vaccination centre closes this week and will move to Warden Lodge Surgery in early July (date to be confirmed).

Testing reminder

It is becoming increasingly apparent that people with COVID-19 symptoms are using ‘rapid’ or ‘lateral flow’ tests to self-diagnose if they think that they might have COVID symptoms.

Twice-weekly lateral flow tests should be an important part of our daily routines – they help to pick up potential COVID in people who are not displaying any symptoms. Many people now have a supply at home, provided by a school, nursery, or employer. However, they should not be used by any who has suspected COVID symptoms to ‘self-diagnose’ the virus.

Anyone who thinks that they might have COVID symptoms must take a ‘PCR’ test, either by ordering one to be delivered to their home, or by attending one of the test centres in our area. They must then self-isolate while they wait for the results. This approach means that if the person

does test positive, they can be supported to self-isolate if necessary. Test and Trace staff will also work with them to contact and advise friends, family members or colleagues who might have been infected.

Book a PCR test at: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Supporting our communities

Hertfordshire Volunteering and People Assistance Cell (VPAC)

The COVID Local Support Grant, which was originally due to end on 20 June, has been extended until 30 September. Adult Care Services (ACS) has received £469,000 in the latest allocation, which is split with Children’s Services. Some 80 per cent of the allocated funding has been ring-fenced to provide support with food and utility bills, with the remaining 20 per cent for other essentials.

The expectation is that the majority of the ACS funding will be used as previously, providing essential food and utility support to vulnerable households. Support will also be offered through foodbanks and other food organisations in conjunction with districts and and a Hertfordshire Community Foundation grant scheme, as well as being used to support groups like the gypsy and traveller community, faith groups and carers.

To help ensure that all our communities have access to COVID vaccinations and the support to help them make an informed decision, the Health Protection Board has approved additional funding be allocated to voluntary and community sector organisations to help support vaccine confidence work, providing additional resources and capacity to deliver tailored communication, training and education to harder to reach and higher risk groups.

Additional funding has also been received to support the voluntary sector with preparation for any third wave, as well as a new focus on recovery, proactively contacting those who have received support to assist with rebuilding mental and physical wellbeing and engagement with local community.

#SaveOurSummer campaign

A Health Protection Board-funded campaign targeting 18 to 25-year-olds in Hertfordshire began this week with a series of videos raising awareness of free home testing twice a week. It is the first phase of a #SaveOurSummer campaign and will be followed by other content highlighting how easy it is to build testing in to daily/weekly routines. The campaign has been developed using local insight, including focus groups and a countywide survey of young adults which received around 700 responses.

I am very pleased to support our young people, many of whom have been significantly affected by COVID-19, with a campaign they helped to create.

Thank you, Darryl.