What you need to know about face coverings
A video blog by Gary Bourlet, Membership and Engagement Lead at Learning Disability England
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Covid 19 vaccine, booster and treatment information UPDATED 24/01/22
This page was UPDATED on 24 JANUARY 2022
On Sunday 12 December 2021 the Prime Minister announced that all people aged 18 or over would be offered a Covid Booster vaccine by the end of December 2021.
This is because the Omicron variant of the virus is spreading quickly.
Keep Safe from PhotoSymbols has made some new posters about Omicron and the booster.
There are 3 ways to book your booster:
- You can book an appointment online: Book online here
- You can find a walk in vaccination centre and just turn up for your booster. Find walk in centres here
- You can book via your GP. Contact them if you’re not sure
You have to wait 3 months from the date of your 2nd vaccine before you can have the booster.
Read the easy read guidance about the booster here
Read the easy read guidance about Covid vaccination here
Watch a short video that tells you more about why vaccines are so important.
Books Beyond Words have updated their wordless books about Covid.
In January 2022 the government announced some changes to testing and isolating.
This was part of Plan B because of the Omicron variant.
Inclusion North has made an easy read newsletter and a video about this.
From 20 January 2022 the government relaxed some of the Plan B rules.
This is because the number of cases of Omicron was starting to go down.
You can read the latest rules here
Plan B is part of the government’s Covid Autumn and Winter Plan 2021.
Read the updated Autumn and Winter Covid Plan 2021
Read the easy read version of the Autumn and Winter Plan 2021
The NHS is also offering new antibody and antiviral treatments to people with coronavirus (Covid 19) who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill.
Read the easy read letter to patients about treatment here
There is a list of health conditions that mean people will be offered treatment if they catch Covid.
Your doctor or specialist will tell you if you can have this treatment.
Find out more about treatment for Covid and who can have it
The Down’s Syndrome Association is regularly updating their web pages about treatment for people with Down’s.
The NHS has said it is very important that people have the booster as soon as possible.
Here is some more information, and some resources that might help:
Vaccination and reasonable adjustments (Mencap)
Information in different languages including easy read and videos
The Covid vaccine and Human Rights (BIHR)
The Covid-19 Vaccine and Human Rights: A short guide for staff working in public bodies (BIHR)
If you can’t find the information you need and your GP can’t help, these organisations have telephone helplines:
Challenging Behaviour Foundation Family Support Line: 0300 666 0126
Mencap learning disability helpline: 0808 808 1111
Other vaccine information and resources:
General Covid-19 vaccine guidance
What happens during and after my vaccination?
Information for paid supporters:
A guide for paid supporters preparing with people for Covid-19 vaccination
Resources to help paid supporters prepare for Covid-19 vaccinations
Archive Library
Road Map out of lockdown 2021
On February 22 2021, the government came out with a roadmap of how we will come out of lockdown.
This is a plan of 4 steps, explaining how we will see restrictions start to lift and a return to normal life.
The Prime Minister has just announced that restrictions that were expected to be lifted on June 21st (step 4) will now happen on July 19th read more here.
Inclusion North have made an easy read about this update that you can see here.
You can see the full government roadmap here
Here is a video from NWTDT explaining the roadmap.
Here is an Easy-read guide on the government’s 4-step plan out of lockdown from Cornwall People First
Here are more details on the changes that will happen on each date:
How can I stay connected?
We know how important it is for us all to stay in touch, have fun and stay busy and active during COVID-19.
Here are some ideas and activities from our members and partners that you can join in.
There are also some guides to help you get online using technology.
We would love to hear about your events and activities so we can share them on this page.
You can contact us by email: comms.team@LDEngland.org.uk or by phone: 0300 111 0444
What Self Advocacy groups are doing (PDF link)
Other resources that can help
The resources on this page are from Learning Disability England members and our partner organisations.
They will give you ideas and tips about how to follow the official government guidance and look after yourself, your family and the people you support.
Easy Read resources are now in each section to help you find them.
Self-Advocacy and families supporting each other: Recordings
Previous sessions of this meeting include:
Session 1: What are people doing? What are the big concerns?
In this session we discuss how people are adapting to changes because of lock down. We talk about what people are planning to do to keep them working, connected and positive.
Session 2: Keeping Connected
In this session, Sunderland People First, Ace Anglia and Supported Loving share what they are doing to keep working and connected with their members.
Session 3: Helping people who struggle to access technology
In this session shared ideas about how we can help people who don’t have technology or an understanding of how to us it.
What the government is saying
On 22 February 2021 the government came out with a roadmap of how we will come out of lockdown. You can read that here.
Here is a video from NWTDT explaining how the restrictions will be lifted.
From April 1st 2021 those on the extremely clinically vulnerable no longer need to shield.
From 12 April non-essential retail can now open as well as outdoor hospitality venues and most outdoor attractions. Read more about what you can and cannot do now here.
From 17 May all outdoor restrictions on meeting others outdoors are lifted and all indoor hospitality can open.
The Prime Minister has just announced that restrictions that were expected to be lifted on June 21st (step 4) will now happen on July 19th read more here.
Inclusion North has made an easy read about the update you can see here.
You can read more government guidance in ‘Key Current Guidance Documents’ below.
