02 July 2021

Covid update - 2 July

BSO guidance on wax management during the pandemic

Following a further review of the evidence and taking account of progress made with vaccinating a large proportion of the population, the BSO has updated its guidance on wax management during the pandemic.
 
It now recommends "micro-suction can be safely performed in outpatients, even in the presence of a tympanic membrane perforation or middle ear infection, irrespective of whether the suction tip is fenestrated or not". However, clinicians should continue to adhere to strict IPC measures. Read the full statement.

Mandating Covid-19 vaccinations in care home settings - England

Following its consultation on whether to mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for staff in care home settings, the government has concluded that, in England, it will require any professional visiting a care home to be vaccinated.
 
The stipulation will apply to healthcare workers but will exclude those with medical exemptions. It also excludes anyone entering to assist with an emergency or carry out urgent maintenance work and those under 18 years of age.
 
To mitigate the risk of staff shortages, the government said it had included a 16-week grace period, providing time for people to receive both vaccination doses.
 
The government has also said it will provide more support to key members of the workforce who might be "more vaccine-hesitant", including women of childbearing age, people from BAME groups and those with concerns about the vaccine based on religion or belief.
 
To address concerns about accidental breaches of data protection law, the government said it has "inserted a provision in the regulations so that a service provider may process information provided by a person wanting to prove their vaccination status, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018".
 
At this stage, we advise all members who provide domiciliary care to read the government's proposals and contact us directly if you have any questions by emailing [email protected].  

Covid-19 vaccination update

The UK JCVI is now assessing who to prioritise for the third dose of a Covid vaccine. The JCVI will determine whether millions of vulnerable people should be offered a booster vaccine from September.
 
The interim guidance advises the NHS to plan for a two-stage Covid-19 vaccination booster in September run alongside the annual flu vaccination programme. The interim guidance states:
 
Stage 1. The following people should be offered a third dose Covid-19 booster vaccine and the yearly influenza vaccine as soon as possible from September 2021:

• Adults aged 16 years and over who are immunosuppressed
• Those living in residential care homes for older adults
• All adults aged 70 years or over
• Adults aged 16 years and over who are considered clinically extremely vulnerable
• Frontline health and social care workers.

Stage 2. The following people should be offered a third Covid-19 booster vaccine as soon as practicable after stage 1 with equal emphasis on the influenza vaccine's deployment where eligible:

• All adults aged 50 years and over
• All adults aged 16 to 49 years who are in an influenza or Covid-19 at-risk group as outlined in the Green Book
• Adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals.

The final guidance is expected in September. Read more.