Coronavirus (Covid-19) - latest information and advice for patients Contents: Shielding advice Vaccination information Latest information for patients National restrictions Travel Research Diet Stress and anxiety Exercise for shielding patients Research from NHS Blood and Transplant Latest NHS information and advice Support for the extremely vulnerable Further general advice CORONAVIRUS - SHIELDING/UNSHIELDING - LATEST INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR PATIENTS The government announced on Wednesday 17th March that shielding will be paused for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable in England from Thursday 1st April. Shielding is also set to pause from the 1st April in Wales. The guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Covid-19 in the United Kingdom can be found at the links below: England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland NKF has produced a lanyard for people to wear when out in public, to remind other to social distance. We have had lots of great feedback about the lanyard and we have sold 16,000 to date. Please call our freephone helpline if you would like to chat to one of our advisors about your concerns - 0800 169 09 36 We know patients are very concerned about coronavirus (Covid-19). The NKF are working with the National Renal Guidance Group for Covid-19. This is a group of specialist clinicians, partners and patient charities, who are providing the latest clinical and patient guidance during these very worrying times. The NKF have written to all NHS Trust chief executives, to highlight the importance of in-centre dialysis patients wearing appropriate face masks. These are for use when travelling to and from dialysis, throughout the prescribed dialysis treatment, and in waiting and assessment areas being used both before and after treatment. Vaccination information The JCVI has issued its final guidance on phase 2 of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. People over the age of 16 in Wales living with adults who have weakened immune systems are to be offered the vaccination. As of Tuesday 13th April, all people aged 45 or over are being invited to book their Covid-19 vaccination. The first dose of the Moderna vaccine was administered in Wales on Wednesday 7th April. The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has produced an information leaflet on the Moderna vaccination. The NKF is pleased to announce that it is partnering with Kidney Research UK to fund a study to discover how well Covid-19 vaccinations work in people who go to hospital for dialysis. From Thursday 18th March, people aged 50 and over in England are being invited to book their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination. In Wales, people aged 50-69 and everyone aged over 16 with an underlying health condition is currently being offered the Covid-19 vaccination. People aged over 40 in Northern Ireland are also being offered their first dose of the jab. In Scotland, people aged over 50, those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers aged 16 to 64 are currently being offered the Covid-19 vaccination. In a review of all available safety data from over 17 million people vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK, there was no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots among people vaccinated with its vaccine. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have also released a statement advising that people should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so, and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have also stated that there is no indication that the reported blood clots were caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine. The NKF, along with other kidney charities, has released a Covid-19 vaccination information for patients guide, which includes some common questions people have asked, with answers from kidney specialists. NHS England has released the locations of vaccination centres throughout the country. The Welsh government has revealed the locations of vaccination centres across the country. Public Health Scotland has created a resource centre where you can find information about the Covid-19 vaccination, including where they'll be administered. NHS Blood and Transplant has issued frequently asked questions and answers on the Covid-19 vaccination for organ and islet transplant recipients, patients on the transplant waiting list and living donors. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved three Covid-19 vaccinations. The first vaccine to be approved has been developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and is currently being rolled out to elderly people in care homes and care home staff. The second vaccine has been developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and roll-out started in the UK on Monday 4th January. Dialysis patient Brian Pinker was the first person to receive the vaccination. The third vaccine has been produced by Moderna. The first dose was administered in Wales on 7th April. The renal community has provided key messages about the Covid-19 vaccination for people with CKD. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued their advice on the priority groups for the coronavirus vaccination. The renal community has released a joint-statement regarding the Covid-19 vaccination for adult patients with kidney disease. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Latest information for patients Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own, read the guidance here. We are working with our colleagues to ensure the latest and most up to date information is available to patients. KQuIP COVID HD Ensuring Patient Safety - Coronavirus test information for kidney patients can be found here Read information about how you can reduce your risk of contracting Covid-19. This information is also available in Plain English. The Kidney Quality Improvement Partnership (KQuIP) has produced an animated video about receiving haemodialysis during the pandemic. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ National restrictions throughout the UK Restrictions in England can be found here Regulations in Wales can be found here Protection levels for Scotland can be found here Regulations for Northern Ireland can be found here _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Travel A joint statement from professional and patient societies on dialysis away from base (DAFB) can be read here. More information about travelling during the pandemic is available on the GOV.UK website. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Research and studies on coronavirus ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Guidance on eating and drinking during dialysis The Renal Nutrition Group have worked with the National Kidney Federation, the British Renal Society, Renal Association and Kidney Care UK to provide some guidance on eating and drinking during dialysis. Click here to view the guidance The Renal Nutrition Group have also been working on ensuring food parcels are suitable for people living with CKD. This includes producing a list of foods that are suitable for food parcels for renal patients, and also speaking with the DEFRA (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affair). Information here _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dietary Information Some patients may have to reduce their dialysis sessions and need to watch their food and fluid intake more than ever, it's important you follow the right dietary information. The nation is cooking at home, and coming up with mouth-watering dishes for the family it not always easy. If you are a kidney patient it can be more difficult due to dietary restrictions, but here at the NKF we have a new cook book that is not only kidney friendly but healthy and flavoursome for everyone. Our cookbook is available through our online shop. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Stress and Anxiety We have put together some information to help you cope with stress and anxiety during these uncertain times. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exercise for those who are shielding A booklet jointly prepared by Public Health England, Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) and the Medicine (NCSEM) has been developed to support older people and those who are shielded to be active and healthy at home. has been developed to support older people and those who are shielded to be active and healthy at home.You can download this booklet if you click here _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Research updates from NHS Blood and Transplant News about the work they are doing to reduce the impact of coronavirus _________________________________________________________________________________________________ The latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (Covid-19) here _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Support for the extremely vulnerable Get coronavirus support as an extremely vulnerable person - Register if you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus. For example, you’ll be able to ask for help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food In England In Scotland In Wales In Northern Ireland _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Further general advice If you think you have coronavirus symptoms you can use the NHS 111 assessment. Further general information and daily updates can be found on the GOV.UK. Information and guidance for renal professionals.