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News -
Parents across the Black Country are being urged to make sure children are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab, following an increase in measles in the West Midlands.
Measles is a highly infectious disease which can lead to serious complications such as severe lung infections and inflammation of the brain. It also damages and suppresses the whole immune system, meaning children can be left much more susceptible to catching other illnesses.
It can spread quickly among communities, such as schools and nurseries, if children have not had two dose the MMR vaccine.
Symptoms of measles include:
• high temperature
• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• cough
• red, sore, watery eyes
• rash, which usually appears a few days after cold-like symptoms (sometimes it starts around the ears before spreading to the rest of the body).
All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age. Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR.
Adults and older children can also be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before and are being encouraged to come forward if they haven’t had two doses.
The NHS has created a video of a local infection prevention nurse sharing the symptoms of measles to look out for and the ways to keep your child safe with the MMR vaccine.
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Advice and Information -
Pop-up vaccination clinics have been set up during February half term to help ensure hildren are up to date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab.
All children are invited for their first MMR vaccine on the NHS when they turn one. The second dose is given when they reach three years and four months of age.
Having two doses of the vaccine provides the best protection against MMR and adults and older children can be vaccinated at any age if they have not been fully vaccinated before.
The clinics, which will be running everyday throughout the half term break, are open to all eligible children who are due or have missed a dose. Adults up to the age of 25 are also invited to come forward.
The pop-up clinics are being hosted at a range of locations across the Black Country. This is in
addition to existing pop-up clinics taking place this weekend:
Saturday 3 February:
• Vaccination van located outside Poundland in Walsall Town Centre, Lower Hall Lane, St Matthews Quarter, WS1 1PU, 9am-3pm. To book an appointment call 01922
902035
• Whitmore Reans Family Hub, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AL, 9.30am-2.30pm. To book an appointment call 01902 200077
Saturday 10 February:
• Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, DY8 2AA, 10am-3pm. To book an appointment call 01384 431 712
• West Bromwich Central Family Hub, Off Claypit Lane, West Bromwich, B70 9EZ, 9am3pm. To book an appointment call 0121 592 1110
Monday 12 February:
• Tesco, Silver Street, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6DZ, 9am-3pm, To book an appointment call 01922 902035 -
Report -
An estimated 1.9 million people living in private households in the UK (2.9% of the population) were experiencing self-reported Long Covid (symptoms continuing for more than four weeks after the first confirmed or suspected coronavirus (Covid-19) infection that were not explained by something else) as of 5 March 2023. Long Covid symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 1.5 million people (79% of those with self-reported Long Covid), with 381,000 (20%) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities
had been “limited a lot”. Long Covid is an emerging phenomenon that is not yet fully understood. -
News -
Ideas Made Real is for young people aged 16-24 to turn their social action projects and community ideas into reality. Each successful young person will receive an award of up to £8,000 and expert support from United By 2022’s youth team to bring their project to life. Whether it's addressing homelessness, promoting mental
health awareness, or improving their surroundings, Ideas Made Real is designed by young people, for young people. Ideas Made Real is part of our GEN22 programme and last year’s projects won a national award.
To celebrate the West Midlands turning 50 this year, Ideas Made Real will hand the reins over to young people to create lasting impacts in their neighbourhood, their community and their home. If you have ever felt that no-one is doing anything about an issue that you care about, then this is for you. Previous participants say that Ideas Made Real made them feel confident and connected, and proud they made a difference for a community important to them, or in the place they call home. -
News -
Pop-up clinics have been set up in the Black Country to encourage eligible people to come forward for a spring COVID-19 vaccine.
Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), this spring’s eligible groups include:
• adults aged 75 years and over by June 30
• residents in care homes for older adults
• those aged six months and over who have a weakened immune system.
The pop-up clinics are being hosted at a range of locations across the Black Country, with no appointment necessary. Anyone aged 18 and over who is eligible for a spring vaccine is encouraged to come forward as soon as possible.
Walk in vaccines will be available at the following locations over the next few weeks:
Wolverhampton
• Bilston Market Pinfold Street, WV14 0DN, Monday 29 April, 8am-2pm
• Phoenix Park, Dudley Road, WV2 3J, Wednesday 8 May, 9am-3pm
Walsall
• Tesco, Silver Street, Brownhills, WS8 6DZ, Monday 29 April, 9am-3pm
• Morrisons, Middle Piece Way, Willenhall, WV13 1QG, Wednesday 1 May, 9am-3pm
• Walsall Town Centre, Lower Hall Lane, St Matthews Quarter, WS1 1PU, Saturday 4
May, 10am-4pm
• Aldridge Community Centre, Middlemore Lane, WS9 8AN, Tuesday 7th May,10am-2pm
Sandwell
• Tesco, 46 New Square, West Bromwich, B70 7PR
o Thursday 2 May, 9am-3pm
o Sunday 5 May, 10am-3pm
• Morrisons, 239 Holyhead Rd, Wednesbury, WS10 7BD, Tuesday 7th May, 9am-3pm
Dudley
• Dudley Market Place High Street, DY1 1PQ
o Friday 26 April, 9am-2pm
o Friday 3 May, 9am-2pm
• Mary Stevens Park, Heath Lane, Stourbridge, DY8 2AA, Saturday 27 April, 10am-2pm
• Tesco, Fox Oak Street, Cradley Heath, B64 5DF, Tuesday 30 April, 9am-3pm
The clinics will be running until the end of June. More dates and locations can be found on the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board’s (ICBs) website.
Sally Roberts, Chief Nursing Officer for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “Our pop-up clinics
are a great way for those eligible for a spring COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated at a time and
location that suits them, with no appointment necessary.
“Having the spring COVID-19 vaccine helps vulnerable people, including the elderly and
those with weakened immune systems, to maintain a high level of protection and helps prevent
them from becoming seriously ill or needing treatment in hospital.
“You don’t need to wait to be invited if you’re eligible, just come forward as soon as you can.”
In addition to the pop-up clinics, spring COVID-19 vaccinations are available at a number of community pharmacies and other vaccine sites across the Black Country. You can find your nearest site or book online via the National Booking System, or by calling 119.
For more information about the spring COVID-19 vaccine, visit the NHS website. -
News -
This May Measure Month (MMM), eligible people in the Black Country are being reminded to visit their local pharmacy for a blood pressure check.
Led by the International Society of Hypertension, MMM is an annual global screening campaign which aims to educate people on the importance of having their blood pressure checked regularly, as raised blood pressure is the number one cause of preventable death worldwide.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition where your heart is made to consistently work harder to pump blood around your body.
It often has no symptoms and can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially lifethreatening conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and dementia.
People who might be more at risk of having high blood pressure include those who:
• are overweight
• do not do enough exercise
• drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
• smoke
• have a lot of stress
• eat too much salt and not enough fruit or vegetables
• are over 65 years old
• are of Black African or Black Caribbean descent.
All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
In the Black Country it is estimated there are around 75,000 people with undiagnosed hypertension and so the NHS is reminding people aged 40 and over who haven’t had a blood pressure check in the last six months to come forward.
Dr Sunil Nadar, Clinical Lead Cardiologist at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and MMM National Lead for England, said: “High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms which is why it is called the ‘silent killer’. It can significantly raise your risk of a life-threatening heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, and the only way to know you have the condition is to get your blood pressure measured.
“High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily (especially reducing salt in the diet), maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking. Some people with high blood pressure will also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high – what works best is different for each person.
“Checking your blood pressure is quick, simple and painless, and it could save your life. So, if you don’t know what your blood pressure is, May is the time to find out.” Selected community pharmacies across the Black Country offer a free blood pressure check service for people aged 40 and over with no previous history of high blood pressure. You can find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you on the NHS website.
Stephen Noble, local pharmacist and Chief Officer of the Community Pharmacy Dudley, said: “May Measure Month is a great opportunity for raise awareness of high blood pressure and the importance of having a blood pressure check.
“If you’re aged 40 and over and you’re not already being monitored by a doctor, you can quickly and easily get your blood pressure checked by going into your local pharmacy. It’s a free, simple and non-invasive test, conducted in privacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.
“Depending on the result, the pharmacist might give you advice to support healthy living, give you a blood pressure monitor to take home with you and return later, or advise you to see a GP. Your blood pressure readings are also sent to your GP so your health records can be updated.”