News

Scotland's booster jag rollout has hit a major snag after some of the country's most vulnerable people were given half their third vaccine.

In total, 140 people who were given their extra dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in the Gorebridge vaccine centre in Midlothian were affected by the error.

Health authorities have maintained there is no risk to individuals due to the error and that half a dose will provide sufficient protection.

The individuals affected were all immunosuppressed, the Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership said, meaning they are more vulnerable to infection and at higher risk from serious complications caused by COVID-19.

The Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership apologised for the mistake and any anxiety caused.

Read full story

Source: The Scotsman, 19 October 2021

Cases of psychosis have risen significantly in England during the pandemic, according to new NHS data.

The number of people referred to mental health services for their first suspected episode of psychosis increased by 75% between April 2019 and April 2021, figures showed.

The data, which has been analysed by the charity Rethink Mental Illness, showed that much of the increase in referrals has happened over the last year, after the first national lockdown.

The charity, Rethink Mental Illness, said that the data offers some of the first concrete evidence of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of the population.

It is calling on the government to invest more in early intervention for psychosis to halt the further deterioration in people’s conditions.

The NHS defines psychosis as “when people lose some contact with reality”. This could involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or believing things that are not actually true.

People experiencing symptoms of psychosis need to seek medical help very quickly and charity Rethink Mental Illness is campaigning to get people faster access to vital treatment.

Read full story

Source: The Independent, 18 October 2021