Are you –

• Living in Milton Keynes
• Aged over 16 years
• Unemployed
• At risk of redundancy
• Not in education
• Working part-time but would like to work more
• Perhaps your employment has been affected by COVID-19

*This is not an exhaustive list and training will be recommended based on individual needs.

MK College has joined forces with Milton Keynes Council to support Milton Keynes residents who need help finding work. You can find out more at www.mkcollege.ac.uk/newfuturesmk/.

Chris Hopkins the Chief Executive of NHS Providers describes the roll out of the Pfizer BioNtech vaccination as a marathon not a sprint.

So we need to continue to be careful, keep safe and protect our families for at least three months.

What we know so far:

• The vaccine efficacy is 95%
• 800,000 vaccinations were delivered to the UK on Thursday. The first country to receive it
• This is sufficient for 400,000 people receiving the jab twice, with a three-week gap
• As each batch completes its final quality check in Germany it will be sent to the UK on an almost daily basis
• We are expecting several million vaccines by the end of the year and 40 million vaccines in total
• For months the NHS have been developing detailed plans on the vaccine roll-out
• They are stored in one central location and then transported to 50 NHS Trusts across England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales where it will continue to be stored at -70⁰
• As the roll out continues it will then be delivered, in batches of 500, to GP surgeries, clinics etc. It can be stored at 2⁰ – 8⁰ for 5 days and can be safely transported four times.
• Each NHS trust is finalising plans to deliver the first dose of the vaccine next Tuesday 8^th December, and the booster dose 3 weeks later.

The first priority groups are:

• Care home residents
• Care home staff
• Hospital patients who are 80+ years
• Hospital out-patients who are due to go into hospital, who are 80+ years

If NHS Trusts cannot use their allocation to these groups within the safety and transport guidance then it will be given to NHS front line staff.

Is it safe?

Yes. It has been tested on 43,000 people with only mild and temporary side effects of fatigue and a headache. Similar to that experienced when we have the flu vaccine.

Currently 30% of the UK population are concerned about the safety aspects because of the speed of production. There are several reasons for this rapid production:

1. The technology of creating vaccines have developed hugely over the past 5 years
2. The scientists have been working 24/7
3. Tens of thousands of people across the world volunteered to participate which quickly provided a valid test cohort
4. COVID-19 is highly contagious and this meant that infections of those participating in the testing happened very quickly. Much quicker than other diseases or viruses.
5. As we are in a global pandemic the MHRA conducted their scrutiny and analysis of Pfizer data as it was released rather than waiting until the final results.

More than 2.5 million vulnerable people in England will be offered free Vitamin D supplements this winter. The vitamin will be delivered to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, and care homes.

About two in five people in the UK are estimated to have a vitamin D deficiency in winter. The NHS says people should consider taking 10 micrograms (400IU) of vitamin D a day.

Low levels of vitamin D, which our bodies produce in response to strong sunlight, may lead to a greater risk of catching COVID-19 or suffering more severe effects of infection, according to some studies.

Read more here.

COVID-19 in MK – where are we now?

The vaccine is nearly here. But before then we need to take care to get through winter.

November was concerning. Infections rose to a new high (nearly 200 case per 100,000 per week). All age groups and parts of MK were affected. There was a surge in hospital admissions – with bed occupancy reaching the same level seen in the first wave. It showed just how quickly this infection can spread and cause harm.

Fortunately, the beneficial effects of lockdown have now kicked in and infections have fallen significantly from that level. However, as we exit lockdown into Tier 2, the level of infection remains high; and MK narrowly avoided being placed in Tier 3. This leaves MK vulnerable to a surge in cases that could match or exceed that seen in November.

To date the lockdown is the only thing in MK that has halted the steady rise in cases that began in August. Lift the lockdown, the risk is that cases rise again. It is hoped that the new Tier 2 restrictions will prevent a surge in infections, but we don’t know if they will.

Under the new restrictions: some things are tighter, such as the rules around pubs; but some restrictions are looser, allowing parts of the entertainment sector to open. Vibrant shopping and entertainment sectors are vital parts of MK, but could leave us vulnerable in the coming weeks. Nobody wants to slip into Tier 3 in MK – that would be bad for local businesses as well as signal an impending health emergency.

This means it is very important for everyone to do their bit. Most business and people are doing this. Ask not just what can be done, but ask what is it sensible to do? This is particularly important for businesses and other organisations – to create the space and opportunities for everyone to be safe. Try and build more safety in where you can. For example, two metres social distancing is inherently safer than one metre; outdoors is safer than indoors; and see the rules as upper limits.

Restrictions on mixing in other people’s homes are difficult, but they are there for a good reason. Meeting indoors, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces in close proximity for long periods of time, gives the virus ample opportunity to spread – and is an important means for the virus to spread from household to household.

Unfortunately, celebrating events - Christmas and other festivities – has been difficult and different. And that will continue to be so, but this doesn’t mean we cannot enjoy them. I have been struck by the way people have adapted and found ways to enjoy celebrations and events this year, often by trying new ideas.

Not just because of the high levels of infection, winter and Christmas, but also with the knowledge that a vaccine is nearly with us, now is not the time to let our guard down. The end is in sight, but we just need to get through winter first.

Christmas Bubbles rules will be in place between 23^rd to 27^th December.

See the guidance for Christmas bubbles here.

Milton Keynes is currently following Tier 2 regulations. See Tier 2 information here.

We cannot mix with anyone indoors who is not part of our household or support bubble.

For example:

• pubs and restaurants
• shops
• leisure and entertainment venues
• personal care/close contact services
• places of worship
• public buildings, such as libraries, community centres and halls
• recycling and waste centres, car parks and public toilets

At least one person in the group should give their contact details to the venue or check in using the official NHS COVID-19 app so NHS Test and Trace can contact if needed.

We can meet with up to 6 people in a garden or outside space.

Read the full Christmas guidance here.