Sharing these newsletters
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
Read the MK COVID-19 Champions code of conduct here.
COVID-19 snapshot
Click here to see and print the full COVID-19 snapshot as of 14 April 2021 (data reported up to 11 April 2021).
Vaccine update
People aged 45 or over in England are now be invited to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Text messages to 48 and 49-year-olds from local vaccination centres are set to go out soon. Appointments can be made on the NHS booking website, When supplies allow the vaccination programme will then move onto everyone aged 40 or over.
Combining vaccine trials
Combining vaccines may give a broader, longer-lasting immunity. The Oxford Vaccine Group are expanding their trial and looking for more volunteers. More than 800 people are already taking part in the research and have received two doses or Pfizer, AstraZeneca or a mix of the two.
Adults over 50 who have had a first dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca can apply to take part in the Com-Cov study. Their second dose could be the same vaccine again, or a shot of Moderna or Novavax. Participants will have blood tests to check how well the vaccines trigger an immune response in the form of antibodies and T cells to combat Covid.
Find out more about the trial and how to take part here: https://comcovstudy.org.uk/home
Explaining surge testing
You may have heard about surge testing, which has started in parts of London after cases of a South African variant were found.
Surge testing is used to prevent the spread of outbreaks of COVID-19, especially new, more contagious variants. In specific streets, postcodes or districts there is increased testing and enhanced contact tracing. Some testing is carried out by health officials going door-to-door.
Vaccine Champions spread the word in CMK Market
Five COVID-19 Champions joined forces with Public Health colleagues to encourage people to have the vaccine this week at an event held in CMK Market – thank you to everyone who took part. Over 1,000 free masks were given out to shoppers.
Mental health and COVID-19
There is help available in Milton Keynes:
MIND in MK
If you or someone you know needs support with their mental health, MIND is here for you. Support is offered remotely. If you are based in Milton Keynes and would like to talk to someone, please contact call 01525 722 225 or e-mail Victoria.Sharp@mind-blmk.org.uk. www.mind-blmk.org.uk/how-we-can-help/milton-keynes/
Milton Keynes Community Support Service
The service aims to support you to lead an independent life in the community and work towards your recovery. It provides a range of community-based services, including running open sessions in different locations, community based activities, workshops and one- to-one working. www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/community-support/milton-keynes-community-support-service/
YIS Young People’s Mental Health
Counselling, Education and Training www.mkyis.org.uk/
Tips and advice for young people: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/looking-after-yourself/coronavirus-and-mental-health/
MK libraries reopening from Tuesday
MK’s libraries are reopening with additional COVID-19 safety precautions. Find out more here: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/libraries/re-opening-libraries
Elections 2021
The deadline to register to vote for the 2021 elections is midnight on Monday 19 April. If you have already registered to vote, you will be sent a poll card from 29 March. If you are unsure if you are registered to vote you can call Milton Keynes Council on 01908 254706 to check.
Registering to vote is simple and takes less than 5 minutes. You’ll need your National Insurance number. Apply to register online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
The final deadline to apply for a postal vote is Tuesday 20 April (5pm). For those that have successfully applied before 8 April early postal votes will be sent from 19 April. Final postal votes will be sent from 26 April. Details of how to apply are available here.
Please note that we can accept good quality images (photographs or scanned documents) of completed application forms.
How do I get more information?
You can visit our website at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/elections.
Reporting concerns
One of the ways you can help is by reporting serious concerns about workplaces and other facilities where social distancing and other measures aren’t being followed. Intelligence like this can help us to track and control virus transmission.
Please tell us when the breach of restrictions took place, and a full address of the site if known. Your details will not be shared with the person or place you are telling us about.
You can write to us at COVIDconcern@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
We may not reply to all messages but we will read them all, and they’ll be used to gather intelligence so we can take action where needed.
Useful links
See the latest Government guidance here gov.uk/coronavirus.
Find COVID-19 Information from the NHS: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
To print and share this, please click "view it as a web page" at the top of this bulletin. This will take you to a web page with the option to print this off at the top.
To share this newsletter on social media sites such as Facebook, please visit our COVID-19 Community Champions website www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/covid-champions where you will find links to this update and previous ones at the bottom of the page. Just copy and paste the link.
Your Feedback
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Let us know how we can improve: COVIDChampions@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk
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