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Get vaccinated to protect against the spreading Indian variant
28/05/2021
Those over 30 are now eligible to receive their vaccination
As pockets of the Indian COVID-19 variant surge in a number of areas around the country, we’re being encouraged to maximise our protection by taking the opportunity to be vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine as soon as it is made available to us.
There were three new COVID cases reported in the Banbury FM area* in the seven days up to the end of last week. These were recorded in Cropredy, Wroxton and Shennington.
In the Cherwell District the infection rate currently stands at 10.6 per 100,000 people – that’s down from 13.3 last week. Across Oxfordshire the rates is 8.1 per 100,000 people.
Whilst the rates here remain low they don’t reflect the national picture.
Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health said: “We’ve generally seen better than expected take up of the vaccine, and as a country we’re really moving quickly, which is great.
“However, as seen elsewhere in the country, people are still getting ill from the virus – especially among those who have not received the vaccine, but are eligible, or have only received one dose.
“But data does seem to suggest that for most people, receiving both doses of the vaccine helps to prevent them from getting ill. Therefore, it is absolutely vital that we all come forward as soon as possible to get both doses of the vaccine if we are to continue to stop the spread in Oxfordshire and protect our most vulnerable residents.
“It’s also vital that everyone follows the ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’ guidance and takes part in rapid symptom-free testing twice a week. Over the last 14 days, over half of our cases have been identified through rapid lateral flow tests – so testing remains a vital part of our fight against the virus. This will help protect those who are not fully vaccinated or may have other vulnerabilities.
“We should also continue to self-isolate if we test positive or have symptoms. We must not let this new variant undo the progress we have made – we are now so close.”
Those over 30, and those who will turn 30 before 1 July 2021, are now eligible to receive the vaccine in Oxfordshire. Over 634,800 doses have been administered already, and nearly 95 per cent of those over 70 across Oxfordshire have now received both doses.
* The Banbury FM area includes Banbury town and the surrounding villages, Brackley, Kings Sutton, Greatworth, Evenley, Middleton Cheney and Chipping Warden.
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam