Get vaccinated in the winter.
This is Dr Zoe Williams’ comment piece
OUR NHS is currently under extreme pressure.
It’s not unusual at this time of year – I can’t remember a single year since I qualified where we haven’t had a very challenging winter.
We see an increase in strokes and heart attacks when temperatures drop below zero. This is because blood clots more easily.
There’s a higher risk of pneumonia and, of course, it’s also flu season. And that’s all before you add Covid into the mix.
As we saw last winter, we are witnessing a system that was already at its maximum being pushed to the limits this year.
The health service can’t take much more, and the incredible staff who work in the NHS have endured a gruelling two years and haven’t had a break.
So, with the inevitable pressures that the NHS is facing, it’s important to remember that every single one of us can do our bit to help. Protect yourself against Covid. Getting vaccinated will be the most important thing you do to protect your family, friends, and the wider community.
I understand there are still people who are hesitant, but my advice is get your jabs and booster – get every vaccine available to you. They are both safe and effective. Recent data has demonstrated that they have a significant impact on Omicron. It is now known that 90% of Omicron-infected patients are unjabbed in ICUs.