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COVID-19 Bulletin: Monday 18 January

January 18, 2021

New:

Updated:

Reminder:

1. New – Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine side effects and actions to take:

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get their COVID-19 vaccination. The few minutes it’s taken you to roll up your sleeve and be jabbed will offer you a lifeline, protecting you from contracting the virus.

Whilst our clinics are full, and we’re hard at work vaccinating patients, colleagues and the community, we would like to tackle one of the hottest topics when it comes to vaccinations, that being side effects.

As the immune system responds to the COVID-19 vaccine some side effects are common and expected. These are usually mild and may include:

  • tenderness, swelling and/or redness at the injection site
  • headache
  • muscle ache
  • feeling tired
  • fever – this normally happens within 48 hours of the vaccination and usually goes away within 48 hours
  • A less common side effect is swelling of the glands

If you feel uncomfortable with any of these side effects, take paracetamol, if you can.

You do not need to self-isolate and/or book a test unless you have other COVID-19 symptoms such as high temperature, new continuous cough or change\loss of your sense of smell (anosmia), or:

  • you have been told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate
  • you live with someone who has recently tested positive for Covid-19
  • you live with someone who has core symptoms of Covid-19 and awaiting a test

If in doubt please discuss with Occupational Health but you do not need to routinely let Occupational Health about any side effects you may be experiencing if these are consistent with the above.

2. Updated  – FFP3 masks\respirators must be worn for all direct patient contact in acute, outpatient and community

You will be aware that patients regardless of whether they are on an Amber ward can very quickly test positive for COVID-19. In order to keep each other and all our patients safe, we are now advising colleagues to treat each patient as being potentially COVID+.

Key changes to the guidance now means:

  • If you are in direct  contact with a patient you MUST wear a FFP3/silicone mask that you have been fit tested for. This not only applies in the acute wards but in outpatients and community.
  • If you are not in direct contact with a patient, then you may to continue to wear the fluid resistant surgical mask.
  • If you are visiting the ward from another area, a minimum requirement when entering the unit will be to wear a fluid resistant surgical face mask

 Please note: staff must follow their individual risk assessment for PPE, occasionally this will recommend a higher level of protection depending on your individual assessment.

 Colleagues carrying out a single Aerosol Generated Procedure (AGP), for example intubation, extubation, tracheotomy, suctioning or those having close contact with a patient, should wear a single use gown with full sleeves with a plastic apron over the gown. Please remove the gown after the task is completed.

For sessional work within a VERY HIGH RISK area or an AGP area, a sessional gown with rolled up sleeves (BARE BELOW THE ELBOWS) should be worn. Colleagues should wear a disposable plastic apron over the sessional use gown and change this in between patients. Please wash your hands and arms in between patients.

This guidance must be followed so as we maintain strong infection prevention and control measures across all our services.

Updated guidance

3. Reminder – Face masks – They’re not one size fits all

There’s more to face masks than you would think, it’s not simply a matter of grabbing the closest mask to you as you enter a ward, they only really work if they fit well.

For those of us who simply wear a fluid resistant surgical mask (FRSM), it’s just a matter of making sure you put it on the right way round (colour side outside) and to pinch the bridge of the nose to get it to fit. However if you need to wear an FFP3 mask or respirator, there is a whole range to choose from depending on the shape of your face, and you must be fit tested and assessed before you wear one in a clinical setting.

Colleagues MUST ensure that they have been fit tested for the current stock of face masks, this stock can change depending on availability so it’s important to keep an eye on comms for alerts about stock changes.

To book yourself in for fit testing please call ext. 5050 and the team will book you into a slot at a site, date and time to suit you. Fit testing clinics are available everyday between 8am and 4pm. Additional capacity has been made available to respond to the changed requirements for fit-tested masks in amber, community and outpatient areas.

4. Reminder – Keeping everyone safe – Testing and isolation

Thank you to everyone who has been completing their Lateral Flow Tests and crucially, inputting their results online. Whilst your results are strictly confidential, they do offer an insight to the organisation about the spread of Covid amongst staff so it’s incredible important not only to carry out the test but to continue inputting your results online. A link can be found on Connect or you can click through from here.

 Remember, if your Lateral Flow test returns a positive you must self-isolate and alert your line manager immediately. You will be required to book in to complete a PCR test to confirm the results.

 Likewise, colleagues who have a family member who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate immediately, even if they have returned negative Lateral Flow Tests. This is because there can be a time delay between contracting COVID and becoming contagious and the Lateral Flow Tests indicating a positive result.  

5. Reminder – Vaccine scams be on the lookout

Several reports are circulating of people being contacted by fraudsters offering the COVID-19 vaccine.

The reports show text messages being sent providing a link for people to register their details to apply for the vaccine, some of which require payment. These text messages and links are not sent from, or linked to, the NHS. Members of the public will be contacted by their GP when they are eligible for the vaccine. NHS and other frontline colleagues will be contacted directly by your employer.

Colleagues at our Trust will be contacted by the SWBH booking team. This team can be contacted on 0121 507 4112.

The NHS will:

  • Never ask you to press a button on your keypad
  • Never ask for payment for the vaccine or for your bank details.

If you receive a text message from an unfamiliar number:

  • Do not respond to it or click on any links
  • Do not enter any personal or log on details
  • Do not make any payment

Please see NHS COVID scam information sheet for more details.

Need to contact your local fraud specialists? The team can be contacted using the details below:

Sophie Coster, Senior Consultant, Lead Local Counter Fraud Specialist:

Bradley Vaughan, Managing Consultant, Counter Fraud Client Manager: