Plea for young people in Berkshire to get jabbed

HIGH case rates and low Covid jabs in young people have prompted a pleading message by Maidenhead's health chief.

According to Berkshire Public Health, only 66 per cent of 18-24 year olds in Windsor and Maidenhead have been given their first dose and 15 per cent have been double jabbed.

In comparison, 78 per cent of residents aged between 40 and 44 have had their first and 68 per cent have had their second.

While it’s not a “horribly low” figure for young people, Covid cases have been rising particularly in the younger cohort as they mix more with one another because of the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

As of July 15, infection rates in 20-24 year-olds is 1,249 per 100,000 population.

"I think it’s really important that everybody realises this is not just an old person’s disease"

The data has “worried and concerned” the Royal Borough’s lead member for health, councillor Stuart Carroll, as it’s “not as high” as the council and their public health colleagues would like to see.

This has prompted him to urge more young people to get their vaccine as soon as they can to be protected from the virus.

He said: “By getting the vaccine, you are significantly increasing your chance of direct protection, namely not getting infected and worst than that, not getting ill.

“I think it’s really important that everybody realises this is not just an old person’s disease and illness. We have seen a number of infections in the younger cohorts and sadly we have seen deaths, severe illness, and going to hospital, undergoing treatment, and ventilation in those younger cohorts.

“We have seen people in those younger cohorts developing long Covid. It’s really a debilitating condition and I know some people suffering with it and it’s awful.”

Long Covid

Long covid arises from complications with the disease and can affect a person at any age.

Complications include breathlessness, migraines, constant fatigue, and more.

Cllr Carroll, who is also an epidemiologist and on the UK vaccine taskforce, said it’s everyone’s “social responsibility” to get jabbed and stop transmission and development of new variants.

According to Cllr Carroll, the data suggests more women are coming forward to get their jab than men.

Even if double jabbed, residents are still being urged to undergo regular testing twice a week and self-isolate if positive.

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