Spring booster jabs appeal to ease Covid pressure on the NHS in Cornwall
The Duchy's hospitals are currently treating almost 170 positive patients
Last updated 29th Mar 2022
Hospitals across Cornwall are currently treating 167 patients who have tested positive for coronavirus.
The Duchy recorded over 2,500 new cases and two more Covid related deaths this weekend, according to the UK daily dashboard.
Latest weekly figures show Cornwall recorded 8,562 cases in the seven days to Wednesday 23rd March, giving us a case rate of 1,487.7 per 100,000 people.
Health bosses have issued a spring jabs appeal, six months after the first booster vaccines were given out.
Fourth doses are now available for over 75s and over 12s with a weakened immune system.
Visiting remains suspended at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' Trust, apart from exceptional circumstances.
Iain Davidson is the Clinical Lead for Cornwall's vaccination roll-out and tells us the boosters will help ease the pressure on our NHS.
Iain said: "Prevalence wise it's really high at the moment and hospital numbers - we've got over 120 patients which is, I think, our highest ever as inpatients within the hospitals.
"It's a difficult time and it's really important for us to get on top of that again and we know that vaccination really is one of the best ways of helping drive down that transmission and driving down rates.
"I think it's just sort of a natural cycle; different parts of the country have peaks at different times. Obviously there's been the removal of some restrictions and we're just going up at the moment but that will level off at some point and start to come down. But as I say, getting these boosters in will just help that happen sooner".
Speaking about the importance of acting now, six months after the start of the first boosters roll-out, Iain added: "The antibody levels from those vaccines are just beginning to wain a bit and this is a particularly at-risk cohort so we're just really keen to bump up that immunity for them. One to stop them getting Covid and stop them getting severely ill but also just to help take the pressure off the NHS and Primary Care at the moment as well".
You can find all the information about Covid vaccinations on NHS Kernow's website.