Sixteen frontline charities have formed a new partnership to encourage people in the Midlands with long-term health conditions and their carers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Organisations including Diabetes UK, The British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support and Mencap are joining with the Department of Health and the NHS to promote vaccine uptake among those the charities support every day.

Since 15 February those in cohort 6 – people with certain underlying health conditions and their carers – have been receiving invites from their GP practice to come forward for life saving vaccinations to protect them from COVID-19.
The charities will use the combined strength of their networks to reassure people with long-term health conditions about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

Alison Tonge, Regional Director of Commissioning at NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, said:

“Having the support of these fantastic and trusted charities as we work to ensure everyone eligible gets their vaccine is so important. We are delighted to have them on board as they work every day to support the very people we are reaching out to. This is a great boost for the rollout which continues to show what we can achieve when we pull together as one.

“Their help, encouragement and links with communities will help make sure everyone can get access to the life-saving protection the vaccine provides and help protect those with underlying conditions and their carers.”

Peter Shorrick, Midlands and East Regional Head at Diabetes UK, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be working with other leading voices in the charity sector to encourage people to get their COVID-19 vaccine. People with diabetes have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they develop coronavirus. For people living with diabetes, the best protection against coronavirus is to get the vaccine and take whichever vaccine you are offered. People in group 6 who are at higher clinical risk from coronavirus and have not already been contacted will be invited for a vaccine by their local GP team.”

Dave Rogers, Chief Executive of Midland Mencap, said:

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on many citizens with a learning disability. We value the opportunity to support this partnership in raising awareness of the importance of the COVID vaccine. We have been working with citizens and families ensuring they have access to trusted information that builds understanding and confidence in these safe vaccines. Citizens with a learning disability have been disproportionally impacted by COVID, so it is a priority to promote both access and confidence in communities in getting the vaccine as soon as possible to protect lives.”

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said:

“If you have a heart or circulatory condition, the best thing you can do for your health right now is to have the coronavirus vaccine as soon as you receive your invitation.

“We know that if you have heart and circulatory diseases, you are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. Having the vaccine not only reduces that risk, but it can also protect those around you by making it less likely that you will spread the virus to others.”

The organisations which have signed up so far to become members of the coalition are: African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT), Asthma UK, British Heart Foundation, British Liver Trust, British Lung Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Carers UK, Diabetes UK, Epilepsy Action, Kidney Care UK, Lupus UK, MacMillan Cancer Support, Mencap, MS Society, Sickle Cell Society and Terrence Higgins Trust.

These vital charities support those included in priority vaccination categories, including cohort 6 which covers individuals aged 16 to 64 with certain long-term conditions identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation as being at higher clinical risk from COVID-19.

These conditions include chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver disease and neurological conditions, including MS and epilepsy, vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen, morbid obesity, severe mental illness, as well as sickle cell, lupus and those on GP learning disability registers.