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Dear resident,
I’m contacting you as Kirklees Council’s Director of Public Health with an important update on COVID-19 and the rollout of the vaccine.
COVID-19 infections have now started to fall in Kirklees after several weeks of increases. We are still, however, recording over 1,000 new confirmed cases every week. This means that the risks of the virus to people in Kirklees are still significant.
There were sadly 18 COVID-19 related deaths in Kirklees over the last seven days, which is an increase from last week. There are also currently 184 patients from Kirklees in local hospitals with COVID-19 which is higher than it was during the first peak in spring last year. Our health services are under a great deal of pressure. You can view all the data on the online dashboard.
Over 60 per cent of all new confirmed COVID-19 cases were of the new variant in the last week. We know the new variant spreads easier and we’ve seen evidence of this in other parts of the country. This is another reason for us to remain cautious.
Continuing to follow the national lockdown guidance and doing the basics such as washing your hands, social distancing and wearing a face covering are the best way you can play your part.
Vaccination programme
The vaccination programme is now rolling out across Kirklees. In this first phase, older residents, including people living in care homes, are being vaccinated alongside health and social care workers.
As the programme continues, more local people will be contacted by their GP or NHS to invite them for their vaccine. You don’t need to put yourself forward for vaccination, the NHS will contact you.
It’s understandable that there is a lot of debate about vaccines. Here’s some of the advice I have been giving:
- “Are the vaccines safe?” - All vaccines have been thoroughly tested and passed the strict standards for safety and effectiveness.
- “Do the vaccines contain animal products?” - None of the vaccines available in the UK contain animal products.
- “I have had a message asking me to pay for my vaccine, what should I do?” - You never need to pay to be vaccinated. Some people have received texts or emails that seem to be from the NHS which ask for their bank details. Even if it appears like the message is from the NHS, if it asks for your financial details, it is a scam.
- “How can I find out more about vaccines?” - If you hear information about the vaccine that worries you, or see it online and on social media, it’s really important to check where it has come from. If you are concerned about vaccination, please don’t rely on just one source of information even if it sounds convincing. The NHS is a good place to start to find out what the vaccines are and how they were developed.
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Update on May 2021 elections
The local Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire mayoral elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021.
We’re working hard to ensure polling stations are as safe as possible for voters and staff with all appropriate safety measures in place, including social distancing, to prevent any spread of COVID-19.
If you’re not comfortable, or unable, to visit your polling station, postal voting is a convenient way of voting and means that your ballot paper will be sent to you before an election.
If you’re thinking about voting by post, you can apply now by doing one of the following:
For any further information or advice please contact Electoral Services:
Email: electoral.registration@kirklees.gov.uk or Telephone: 01484 221650 (during normal office hours).
I know how difficult the lockdown restrictions are, but I want to thank you for everything you have done since the start of this pandemic. The togetherness and sense of community amongst everyone in Kirklees are a huge positive we can take from such a difficult period.
Please continue to keep each other safe,
 Rachel Spencer-Henshall
Director of Public Health, Kirklees Council
Kirklees Council has special permission from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to email you without consent where this is in the public interest. In this case it is to help protect the public from COVID-19.
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