This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced its recommendations on who will be eligible for a Covid booster vaccine in autumn 2023.
The announcement follows interim advice published in January.
The JCVI has advised that the following groups be offered a vaccine this year: residents in a care home for older adults; all adults aged 65 years and over; persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book, COVID-19 chapter (Green Book); frontline health and social care workers; persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts (as defined in the Green Book) of people with immunosuppression; and persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (as defined in the Green Book) and staff working in care homes for older adults.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of COVID-19 immunisation on the JCVI, said: "The autumn booster programme will continue to focus on those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill. These persons will benefit the most from a booster vaccination.
"It is important that everyone who is eligible takes up a booster this autumn – helping to prevent them from hospitalisations and deaths arising from the virus over the winter months."
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "The COVID-19 virus has not gone away and we expect to see it circulating more widely over the winter months with the numbers of people getting ill increasing.
"The booster is being offered to those at higher risk of severe illness and by taking up the booster vaccine this autumn, you will increase your protection ahead of winter, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak."
NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the autumn booster vaccine in due course.
Health and social care secretary, Steve Barclay, said: "I have now accepted the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on eligibility for the 2023 autumn booster programme, to protect those most vulnerable from Covid.
"NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the autumn booster vaccine shortly, and I would urge anyone invited – including those yet to have their first jab - to come forward as soon as possible."
This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly