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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has undertaken a rapid evidence review looking at the effects of vaccination against Long COVID or post-COVID symptoms. The review includes 15 UK and international studies that were undertaken up until January 2022. An estimated 2% of the UK population have reported symptoms of long COVID or post-COVID syndrome, which can last for more than 4 weeks after their initial infection. The three most common symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath and muscle or joint pain. Eight of the studies in the review looked at the effect of vaccinations administered before infection. Most of these studies suggest that vaccinated people (1 or 2 doses) were less likely to develop symptoms of long COVID following infection compared with unvaccinated people – in the short term and long term (4 weeks up until 6 months after infection).

The Collaboration for Change is a group of two UK universities, nine community organisations and two small and medium size enterprises, who have conducted research on how to improve vaccine uptake among ethnic minority groups. This report outlines the results of a co-produced research study by the Collaboration for Change that combines research, evidence and lived experience to understand and improve vaccine uptake in ethnic minority communities. The report highlights the following factors influencing vaccine uptake: Using trusted messengers to encourage vaccine uptake may be a useful strategy to increase uptake in communities with low vaccination rates A lack of trust in the organisations and individuals encouraging vaccine uptake impacts vaccine uptake across many ethnic minority communities People are less likely to accept the offer of vaccination if little culturally and linguistically appropriate information is available to them, especially when their concerns are not covered Alongside the report, the Collaboration for Change has produced some recommended strategies to improve vaccine confidence and uptake.

UK experts have issued an update on the timing of elective surgery and risk assessment after COVID-19 infection. Your operation may be delayed if you test positive for Covid-19. Studies of people who had COVID-19 just before or after their surgery show that they had more complications and an increased risk of dying. The risks of chest problems, blood clots or death are about 3 or 4 times greater for a full 7 weeks following COVID-19. These risks are increased even if the patient had no symptoms from COVID-19 (i.e. just a positive test).

This guidance aims to support the safe roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination programmes. Vaccination programmes include a number of work systems, such as manufacturing, filling and packaging for distribution, testing and approval, cold chain delivery, booking systems for vaccination appointments, local administration of the vaccine, and patient follow-up. The challenges and requirements for operating such complex programmes at speed may vary both within a country as well as between countries, but the guidelines offer 10 principles to support systems thinking for vaccination programmes that apply across settings. These human factors and ergonomic principles relate to the identification and description of work systems (Identify), the improvement of work systems and processes (Improve), and the continuous learning from experience to achieve sustainable change (Adapt).