As the world marks World Polio Day, which falls a few days from the birthdate of Jonas Salk, who developed the first polio vaccine, Margaret Jones our Director of Public Health reflects on the importance of vaccinations and the huge benefits they have provided.
Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health
As Sefton Councilâs Director of Health, I am reminded daily just how lucky we are to live in a world where vaccinations prevent so much suffering and misery from serious illnesses that affected people in living memory.
Measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis are just some of the vaccinations now provided routinely to young people through the NHS. So successfully, in fact, that many younger people are unlikely to have heard of some of them.
Suffering and misery
However, as someone who has worked in the NHS and local council, I know all about these diseases and the suffering and misery they can cause and did cause before people were protected from them.
More recently, we have seen the introduction of annual jabs to prevent people from catching âflu, a virus that can make us feel very ill and which for some, can have even worse effects.
As a result, most of us, while we have the occasional bad cold, thankfully wonât have suffered from actual flu. And those of us who have, will certainly remember the fever, aches pains and fatigue that goes with it.
And of course, the past two and a half years of my life, like everyone elseâs, have been dominated by COVID-19, a virus that seemed to come out of nowhere, but which became a global pandemic in no time.
Liberated by vaccines
When I look back to those early days of COVID, when the country was in lockdown and the frequent sirens of ambulances were all that seemed to break the enveloping silence, when hospitals were full of seriously ill people, many of them on ventilators and in induced comas, when we couldnât be with our friends and neighbours even at times of celebration or grief, I can only be thankful that we were eventually liberated from that situation â by vaccines.
It was vaccines, developed by scientists and manufactured in record times and rolled out to so many quickly by the NHS, which gave and are still giving us the protection from COVID.
It was vaccines that have enabled most of us to get back to lives that are relatively normal, although I think forever changed.
It is vaccines that mean for most of us, catching COVID makes us a bit unwell but no longer puts us at risk of hospitalisation, although there are some concerns about the long-term effects of contracting the virus for some.
Ongoing roll outs
And it will be vaccines, in ongoing roll outs and top-up doses, that will continue to protect us from COVID, which look likely to stick around, in the same way that is already happening so successfully with flu and those nasty childhood illnesses that we rarely see any more.
So I thank Jonas Salk and the developers of all the other viruses from which weâre protected today. And all those other scientists who are working right now, to find new preventions and cures that can improve all our lives.
And I will also be pressing on with my work as the Councilâs Director of Public Health, which means encouraging everyone who lives and works in Sefton or who visits the Borough to ensure they are fully vaccinated, against flu and COVID 19.
The Councilâs Green Sefton service have introduced a new campaign, âGive Birds A Breakâ, to highlight the need for visitors to not disturb migrant birds as they rest on our natural coast.
Many of the bird species that are seen along Seftonâs coast have travelled from the arctic and are taking a much-needed break to rest, feed and build up fat and energy levels before continuing their migration south.
Disturbing wildlife should be avoided at all times, but in the case of the migrant birds, resting during high tides is critical. If disturbed during high tide, the birds will fly, burning energy they cannot replace while their feeding areas are covered by sea water. If this disturbance happens repeatedly, the birds become exhausted and can die.
Green Sefton and partners, National Trust and Dynamic Dunescapes, are hosting a number of activities during October Half Term.
Guided walks will be taking place along our natural coast to show visitors the incredible birds from a safe distance. The walks will display the wonderful variety of birds found along our shores, explaining their long journey to get here and the threats they face.
At both Ainsdale and Formby, there will be Paws for Thought pop-ups from Dynamic Dunescape and Green Sefton who will be on site raising awareness about dog walking on our coast.
The Paws for Thought campaign encourages visitors and their furry friends to enjoy these landscapes while also helping us make these habitats a safer home for the wildlife that relies on it.
All activities can be found below:
Tuesday 25th October at 9am – Green Sefton hosting at Burbo Bank, Crosby Beach
People are encouraged to bring binoculars, should they have them, and to wear weather appropriate clothing and stout footwear.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:Â âOur Natural Coast is home to many important wildlife, and itâs great to see partner organisations getting involved with the âGive Birds A Breakâ campaign.
âAll visitors, especially dog walkers and horse riders, are urged to take care along our coastline and avoid disturbing birds. To do so is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and is also covered by the new Coastal and Visitor Area PSPO.â
Temporary signage has been put up over high tides at key points along the coast reminding visitors not to disturb the birds.
For the latest information on the campaign, people can follow Green Sefton on their social media channels:
The âLiving Wellâ bus is calling at Asda Bootle on Tuesday 25 October to give eligible residents the opportunity to get their autumn booster. People can also catch up with any other COVID-19 vaccines they may need and free health checks (if time and capacity allows).
Local residents can catch the chance to get their autumn COVID booster jab and any other COVID-19 vaccines they may need. And if time and capacity allows, free health checks will also be on offer to those aged 18 and over.
The bus will be at both locations from 10:30am to 4pm and Sefton residents can come along throughout the day with no appointments needed.
COVID-19 vaccines will be available for anyone aged five and older who has not yet been vaccinated, or who has missed their second jab or first booster dose.
The team will also be offering the seasonal (autumn) booster to those who are currently eligible.
Free health checks will also be available for residents aged 18 and over, which include a pulse check and blood pressure check, cholesterol and blood glucose check and a BMI check, which will help to spot early signs of conditions like stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.
Residents who are unable to visit the Living Well bus this time can also access free blood pressure checks at the Strand By Me shop in Bootle Strand shopping centre until March 2023.
Sefton Councilâs successful licensing schemes to protect private tenants extended
After a three-month consultation earlier this year and with the positive responses received, Sefton Council is extending its successful Selective and Additional (HMO) Licensing schemes for private rented homes until February 2028.
Hazards removed
Sefton Council introduced Licensing in March 2018 and has used the scheme to improve the management of privately rented properties, including the removal of over 3,000 serious health and safety hazards from licensed properties. These have included fire safety, electrical hazards, damp & mould and excess cold.
Resolved
Cllr Trish Hardy Sefton Councilâs Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: âHaving these Licensing schemes in place has helped the Council to step in and deal with thousands of hazards being faced by private rented tenants across Sefton.
âThe vast majority of cases are resolved informally by us working with the landlord, but we do not hesitate to use formal enforcement powers when necessary.
âSefton Councilâs approach is very much at odds with recent reports implying councils across the country are âfailingâ private renters by failing to use enforcement powers and I am pleased we are continuing the Licensing schemes for a further five years from 2023.â
You can find out more and the Public Notices for the schemes here.
Popular Park Nights sessions return for Halloween season
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The bus will be at both locations from 10:30am to 4pm and Sefton residents can come along throughout the day with no appointments needed.
