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As of 4 August 2021 England, Wales and Scotland have announced that they will follow the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisations (JCVI) to vaccinate 16 and 17 year olds. In England 16 and 17 year olds should start receiving the vaccine by 23 August 2021. In England the Government has updated its Green Book guidance with more detailed...

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales has indicated that despite the rise in numbers of Covid-19 and the lifting of many restrictions in Wales, he will not be advising people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to shield at this time. The Chief Medical Officer wants to ensure people balance the risk of harm from Covid-19 with the risk of harm to an...

Eurordis has called for European nations to offer a booster vaccination dose to people living with a rare condition at highest risk from Covid-19. The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has already issued guidance that all clinically extremely vulnerable people over the age 16 will be offered a booster dose from September 2021.

Given that Wales is currently on alert level 0 and shielding is not taking place, this should not impact the daily lives of the children. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales does not expect to have to advise ‘shielding’ again in the future, based on current evidence. Those removed will now be advised to follow guidance given to the general population,...

A summary of discussion about Covid-19 in Westminster and the Senedd between 15-22 July 2021.

We were joined yesterday at our Community check-in by Dr Liz Whittaker, infectious disease lead at RCPCH, and Senior Clinical Lecturer in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology at Imperial College London to discuss the current situation regarding Covid-19, the risks for children with rare conditions and whether they should be offered the...

A summary of discussion about Covid-19 in Westminster, Holyrood and the Senedd between 8-15 July 2021.

Most Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland have now been lifted but we know that the rare disease community still face challenges with diagnosis, care coordination, access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. Genetic Alliance UK is supporting the Scottish Government to develop and implement a new Action Plan for Rare Diseases in Scotland – and they...