Spring COVID-19 Booster Deadline Nears
Times almost up for anyone still holding out on their spring COVID-19 booster. The NHS keeps reminding people that 17 June is the final day to book a vaccine appointment if they're eligible. The National Booking System and the familiar 119 phone line are still the main ways for people to secure their spot. Medical staff insist this booster is vital, especially for older people and those with health vulnerabilities, since these groups face a higher risk of ending up seriously ill if they catch the virus.
The push for more arms in the vaccine drive comes as the latest data reveals COVID-19 is far from gone. Week 26 numbers showed that 6% of all PCR tests on people admitted to hospitals came back positive for SARS-CoV-2. Out in the community, 7.8% of GP sentinel swabs also returned positive, which means that while COVID-19 isn't filling up headlines, it's absolutely still around.
Nottingham Healthcare Workers on Strike and Pandemic Inquiry Findings
Meanwhile, the tension in NHS hospitals isn’t just about the virus. Healthcare support workers at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust are hitting picket lines, frustrated over unresolved backpay that dates all the way back to their roles during the first COVID waves. These workers say they stepped up when things got tough, but promises of extra pay for tackling high-risk pandemic duties never materialised. Negotiations don't seem to be making headway, so the strike continues, putting added strain on an already stretched hospital system.
The nationwide COVID-19 Inquiry is still getting into the weeds on how support was dished out during lockdowns. Module 7 hearings focused on how people who had to self-isolate managed financially or practically. Real-life cases mentioned during the hearings included support schemes like Nottingham’s council stepping up to deliver medication or providing learning resources for kids stuck at home. But it’s clear, listening to testimony, that access to these lifelines was patchy at best. Many people fell through the cracks, missing out on basic help with shopping, income, or even access to crucial meds while isolating.
The story here isn't just about shots and strikes; it’s a reminder that, even as the pandemic slips from the front of our minds, the aftershocks—whether health-related, financial, or trust in public institutions—are long-lasting and complicated. While NHS bosses do what they can to boost vaccine numbers and contain the virus, they’re also under pressure to fix workforce grievances left over from the toughest months of the pandemic. The spring booster campaign countdown brings that all into focus, showing how public health and worker welfare are closely linked, especially when things get tough.