If you are offered a COVID Booster or other protective measures, do take it

COVID-19 had not gone away.

The NHS has been inviting people over 65 and those whose circumstances make them particularly vulnerable to have a COVID-19 seasonal booster.

They've now worked around to everyone over 50 so I had an email this morning inviting me to book my COVID booster jab, and I have immediately made that booking. My wife had her booster a month ago (she works for the NHS and it is rightly regarded as a priority to protect NHS employees as they are the first line of defence for everyone else.)

I would strongly urge everyone who is invited to have a COVID booster, or one of the earlier jabs if you have not already had them, to take this up.

Just under 200,000 people who died in the UK since the start of the pandemic had COVID-19 mentioned on their death certificate as being one of the causes. There are a number of other ways to measure the impact of the pandemic - for the first two years I think excess deaths was probably the best measure of the net effect of the pandemic, though this is beginning to be more problematic as the pre-pandemic baseline is getting older and more out-of-date. But all the credible measures suggest that COVID has killed between 150,000 and 210,000 of our fellow-citizens in Britain, and more than 6.5 million around the world. 

There is no such thing as a completely zero-risk procedure but the overwhelming evidence suggests that the latest COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and greatly reduce your risk of death or becoming seriously ill from COVID.

If you have any concerns about whether the vaccine is safe for your own personal circumstances, or those of another member of your family, please discuss them with an appropriately qualified medical professional.

I have also had my seasonal flu jab and would strongly advise anyone in one of the categories for whom this is recommended to take this jab too.


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