Honiton: campaign encourages young people to have Covid jab
By Philippa Davies
17th Sep 2021 | Local News
A poster campaign's been launched to encourage young people across Devon to have the Covid vaccination.
It carries the message 'We are all in this together' and features people from the county giving their reasons for having the jab.
Businesses and local authorities will be displaying the poster on their premises.
The local NHS is also working to combat some of the misconceptions that may be putting young people off getting vaccinated.
Why some young people don't want the Covid jab
- They think they won't be badly impacted by Covid. But according to NHS England's Chief Executive, one in five people being admitted to hospital in England with Covid is aged between 18 and 34.
- They're worried about blood clots. All first vaccinations in Devon are Pfizer or Moderna as recommended by JCVI and not Astra Zeneca; which has been associated with a 1/50'000 chance of blood clots in under 40s. Under current JCVI guidance, eligible 12 to 39-year-olds will have the Pfizer vaccine.
- Side effects – some people do have short term side effects, but they may have to have a longer period of time off work or miss important social events if they have to isolate, have Covid or develop Long Covid.
- They're concerned about fertility, pregnancy or breastfeeding. The NHS website explains that vaccine is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and for their baby, and that there's no evidence the Covid-19 vaccines have any effect on a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. However, data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System showed a rise in unvaccinated pregnant women being admitted with Covid-19.
- They worry it will affect periods. According to the MHRA, which regulates medicines in the UK, the number of reports of heavier or later periods is low in comparison to the number of women who have had the Covid vaccine. Heavier or later periods are very common regardless of vaccinations; they are normally short term and likely to be due to other reasons. There is some evidence of menstrual disorders linked to having Covid infection or Long Covid.
How can I have the jab?
People aged over 17 years and nine months can make an appointment online with the National Booking System or by calling 119, or they can attend one of the many walk-in clinics running every day.
People aged 16 to 17 years and 9 months can either wait to be invited by their GP for an appointment or attend a walk-in session - find your nearest clinic
here. Those aged under 16 and eligible for the jab should wait to be contacted by their GP. NHS Devon's chief nurse Darryn Allcorn said: "Many of the people in hospital with Covid-19 this summer are younger and unvaccinated. "It is vital you have both doses of the vaccine to protect yourself from Covid-19 and Long Covid; which affects people of all ages. "People who are double vaccinated may find it easier to access places such as nightclubs and events, and from this week will no longer have to isolate if they're in close contact with someone who has Covid-19."
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