Southall Black Sisters will host a virtual webinar for our service-users this week, which is aimed at challenging misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and boosting uptake amongst BME women.
We are grateful to the panellists, Johanna Kellett-Wright of Medact Migrant Solidarity Group (working with Docs Not Cops); Sonia Adesara, GP Medical Doctor & health professionals from Hillview Surgery and to Meena Patel from SBS who will be chairing the event.
This event is part of wider efforts to address growing inequality in access to vaccines for marginalised groups, made worse by the Government’s hostile environment and discrimination.
We have created this COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Information Pack as an accompanying resource for our service-users and the general public.
You are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination and can book your vaccine now if you are any one of the following:
You can book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment here.
You may be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccination earlier than you expected if you have a health condition or caring responsibilities. You can find out if you are in a priority group here.
If you have any concerns about receiving the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, you can find advice and information here.
You can find more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in various languages, including Punjabi, Urdu, Sylheti, Tamil, Gujarati, Swahili, here.
Registering with a GP
To ensure that you are offered the COVID-19 vaccine once you are eligible, it is very important that you are registered with a GP (medical doctor.) Not being registered with a GP practice could delay receiving your vaccination.
You do not need to provide ID or proof of immigration status when registering with a GP.
• You can find out how to register with a GP here.
• You might be able to register with a GP surgery that’s not in the area you live. You can find out about registering with a GP surgery out of your area here.
• If you have any problems registering with a GP practice, you can call the NHS England Customer Contact Centre on: 0300 311 22 33.
Your immigration status will not be reported to the Home Office when you register with a GP. See here for further information.
This guidance is also available in other languages, including Punjabi, Urdu, Farsi, Hindi and many others here.
There is more information on how those with a migrant status can access Covid-19 testing and vaccinations here.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you must self-isolate.
What is self-isolation?
• Self-isolation is when you do not leave your home because you have or might have coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps stop the virus spreading to other people
• You can find information on when to self-isolate and how to do it here.
You can find information on the symptoms of COVID-19 and how to self-isolate if you present with these symptoms in these additional languages:
There is also guidance for households with grandparents, parents and children living together which could be relevant for some joint families. Click here to access this.
It is now possible to get a test whether you have symptoms or not. The following links contain in-formation on how to book a test in Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow, and how to order testing kits to your home.
Click here to book a test in Hillingdon.
Click here to book a test in Ealing (This page is available in Punjabi, Tamil, Gujarati, Somali, Urdu and Farsi).
Click here to book a test in Hounslow (This information is available in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Somali).
You can also order a pack of 7 rapid testing kits to your home by clicking here and scrolling down to the ‘How to get regular rapid tests’ section.
Alternatively, you can collect up to 2 packs of 7 tests from a local pharmacy or test site:
COVID-19 can make anyone seriously ill. But for some people, the risk is higher. People most at risk of getting seriously ill are known as clinically extremely vulnerable.
You can find guidance on who is considered to be at higher risk here.
There is guidance on vaccinations for older adults who are at risk available here.
This information is available in the following languages:
· Bengali – click here
· Gujarati – click here
· Hindi – click here
· Punjabi – click here
· Somali – click here
· Urdu – click here
Disclaimer
All reasonable precautions have been taken by Southall Black Sisters to verify the information contained in this publication. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall Southall Black Sisters be liable for damages arising from its use. All links from this publication to any other websites are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for sites linked to, or the information found there. A link does not imply an endorsement of a site; likewise, not linking to a particular site does not imply lack of endorsement.
