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Somerset Health and Wellbeing Advisory Network

Autumn Covid-19 Vaccination

The Autumn vaccination programme began on the 5th September focusing first on delivering the vaccination to people in Care Homes and the house bound.
PROTECT YOUR IMMUNITY with the AUTUMN COVID-19 BOOSTER
  • From Wednesday 7th September appointments have been opened up on the National Booking Service and on 119 for anyone aged 75 or over and any staff in a Health or Social Care Setting (i.e. a front line worker/patient facing or a paid or unpaid carer). The appointments will be available to be taken from Monday 12th Health and Social Care staff must self-declare when booking their appointment. They will not be required to bring along evidence of this to the appointment.
  • Under 75s will be invited along for their vaccination as soon as the NHS is able to do so.
All eligible people are strongly encouraged to accept the vaccination that is offered as soon as they are able – it is important to be up to date with the booster and build up protection against severe illness before the winter.
Reduce risk - Fully vaccinated

Flu Vaccination

If eligible for a free flu vaccine, people will be sent an invitation to book an appointment either at their GP or a local pharmacy. Everyone who is eligible for the free flu vaccine will be able to get it.
Some people who can get a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine are also eligible for the free annual flu vaccine. If you are eligible for both, you may be able to have them at the same time – if not please go ahead anyway, you can catch up with the other vaccine later.

Fresher's Week

First year or returning students can be at increased risk of serious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and measles as they mix with large numbers of other students from around the country and overseas.
Fresher's VACcination
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and meningitis charities are urging parents and students to ensure they are protected before the term begins as many of these illnesses arise at the start of the academic year.

The 3 vaccines students should get up to date with are:
  1. MenACWY – protecting against 4 common strains causing meningitis and septicaemia
  1. MMR – protecting against measles, mumps, rubella
  2. HPV (for female students) – protecting against cervical and other cancers caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) together with genital warts

Event this Saturday 10th September


In preparation for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September, Somerset County Council’s Public Health team have been asking members of the public to share quotes, lyrics or poems that have helped them to get through difficult times in their lives.
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Contributions have been compiled in to a digital ‘Book of Hope’, together with signposting to local mental health services and support. The project will be unveiled at an event ‘Walk For A Life’ at Somerset County Cricket Ground this Saturday.

The event aims to raises awareness of suicide in Somerset and is supported by partners including Somerset Foundation Trust, Open Mental Health and Stepladder. On the day, attendees will walk a route through Taunton Town Centre in memory of all those impacted by suicide within the County. They will then end the walk at the Somerset County Cricket Ground, where a number of local partners and stakeholders will be on hand to offer information and advice.

#AskAboutAsthma 12 - 18 September

#AskAboutAsthma is back for 2022 for its sixth year. The campaign is about making simple changes to children and young people’s care that will make a big difference to how they experience
their asthma.
Ask About Asthma
The campaign encourages children and young people and their parents and carers to understand how to best manage their asthma with four measures:
  1. Get an asthma action plan in place
  2. Understand how to use inhalers correctly
  3. Schedule an asthma review – every year and after every attack,
  4. Consider air pollution and its impact on lung health – we want to ensure that every asthma conversation considers indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Simple changes can improve the air quality within Somerset and help safeguard the lung health of everyone, not just people with asthma. For example walking or cycling to school or work, carpooling and turning off engines when idle, or having more greenery in and around homes, schools and offices.

Please share this information widely with your networks.

Staying Safe and Independent at Home

The Wellington SILC is holding an Open Day on Wednesday 28 September 2022 10am - 1pm at the Somerset Independent Living Centre, which is located at 17 Knights Road, Chelston Business Park, Wellington, Somerset TA21 9JH

If you have any queries or require any further information please silcwellington@somerset.gov.uk
In addition, Somerset Adult Social Care in partnership with Mendip District Council will be opening a new Independent Living Centre in Shepton Mallet on Tuesday 27 September 2022. The Somerset Independent Living Centres (SILC) have a range of equipment and technology to help people stay independent, both in the home, and also when out and about. This new centre will compliment the existing service in Wellington

If you are able to attend the opening ceremony, please click on the sign up button below.
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Job Opportunity

Evolving Communities are now recruiting for the project lead on the Community Connectors Programme which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with chronic respiratory disease in Bridgwater through community engagement and feedback. The candidate will be responsible for recruiting community connectors into ‘paid volunteer’ roles, with training and support packages included.
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We want to hear from you

Your feedback is valuable to us and we'd like to receive more from you and your communities. Information on issues you are spotting locally will help us to reduce barriers to accessing healthcare. Use the button below to give us your details and we'll give you a call back.
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Your local helplines

Local Helplines

Mendip District Council call 0300 303 8588
Sedgemoor District Council call 0300 303 7800
South Somerset District Council call 01935 462462
Somerset West and Taunton Council call 0300 304 8000
Somerset County Council call 0300 123 22224
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Resources and Further Information:

For the latest local information as well as digital resources, posters and flyers please visit: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/coronavirus/

For information and resources on staying healthy happy and safe at the time please visit: https://www.healthysomerset.co.uk/covid-19/

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