A new team of Vaccination Champions and Vaccination Buddies has been established in Tower Hamlets to promote the COVID vaccine to people with mental health issues and learning disabilities.
Currently, people with a severe mental illness have one of the lowest uptakes of the COVID vaccine. The Trust hopes that the Vaccination Promotion Project will support people who want the COVID vaccine but who find the logistics of organising it difficult. And they hope to provide a space for people who are still weighing up the information to be able to speak to someone, to talk through their concerns and access information that will help them to make the best decision for their situation.
Vaccination Champions/Buddies
The Vaccination Champions and Buddies have lived experience of mental health issues or having a learning disability so have insight into how it feels to manage these as well as other aspects of life, and how overwhelming this can feel.
Leigh Bell, People Participation Lead for Tower Hamlets said, "Our Vaccination Champions will be able to share their lived experiences as service users on how they decided to get vaccinated and can signpost to reputable advice and help set up vaccine appointments. They are not like a Champion in the traditional sense (such as a TH Council Champion) and cannot offer clinical advice. The idea is that there may be some service users who are more likely to listen to and explore with a peer rather than being ‘told’ what they should do by a professional."
Anyone using secondary adult mental health or learning disabilities services in Tower Hamlets can contact the team by emailing: elft.thvaccpromoproject@nhs.net
Robert Hunter, one of the Vaccinator Buddies, is passionate about helping people to protect themselves from serious illness. He said, "Some people just need a little extra support to book their appointment or may appreciate someone going along with them to a walk-in vaccination centre. Those who have anxiety, or who haven't been going out much or have a fear of needles, could benefit from knowing someone will be with them all the way through."
The Vaccination Promotion Project team would like to encourage all service users and carers to share their reasons for getting vaccinated on social media using the hashtag: #ELFTServiceUsers_WhyItsFabToJab
It could help influence a fellow service user or carer to get protected!
People With Mental Health Issues Among Lowest Vaccinated
Day Njovana, Director of Tower Hamlets said, "People with a serious mental illness are most likely to be unvaccinated, with North East London having one of the lowest rates in the country. This affects the services users in hospital and in the community. We are asking our staff to make every contact count by asking everyone they are in contact with about their vaccination status, explaining the benefits, listening to concerns and responding."
People with a severe mental illness are likely to die 20 years sooner than average - most likely due to physical health issues so it is vital that service users are not left behind and have the information they need like anyone else to take care of their health and protect themselves.
This service is for people in Tower Hamlets using secondary adult mental health or learning disabilities services.