Harehills ❤️ Love

This is a complicated topic, of which I can only give glancing coverage of in the Advent Calendar, however, I will be following up in the New Year on East Side Story, as vaccines and community health are true and close to my heart.

Feel to skip my ramblings, I’m just a random dude on the internet that cares about his community and the communities health, the interview below with Adeel Sarwar is from a professional pharmacist that also cares about community health, and doing their best for Harehills.

Throughout the pandemic, in my own limited way, I did my best to promote testing and vaccines, as well as tracking down stats relevant to Harehills.

How is this good news? Well on December 15th, the official drive for Autumn 2023 COVID and Flu vaccinations came to an end, but several of our local pharmacies are continue to offer vaccine injections to help drive up vaccination rates and protect our communities. It’s a noble and vital effort, and I’m extremely proud our local business working towards protecting our community.

The Problems We Face

Now we’ve seemingly been away from the height of the pandemic a couple of years now, it’s easy to take our eyes off the ball. However, COVID is still out there, still transforming, and still causing suffering. Not to mention the endlessly evolving flu viruses that have been the bane of the modern world for over a century, (DNA analysis does show that much of the flu viruses around today are still related to the Spanish Flu that was so devastating at the end of the First World War, these things never go away when they’re that powerful).

Harehills with so many disparate communities, has had issues with vaccine uptake. There are many reasons communities and individuals shy away from getting vaccines, some reasons include language barriers, history (some communities are directly linked with unethical vaccine testing both a long time ago, and relatively recently), and sometimes it’s the influence of the struck off and disgraced doctor Andrew Wakefield and the anti-vaxxer movement.

However, it’s a simple fact that the lower the uptake of vaccines in a community, the higher the rates of infections, and critically complications from these viruses are. Not to mention the risk to the immuno-compromised and others at high risk from the infections.

Local Pharmacies Reaching Out

Recently, Adeel Sarwar who runs Roundhay Pharmacy on Roundhay Road reached out to me to ask if we can collaborate on something to try and help increase vaccine uptake in the area, as we have some of the lowest rates, and are twice as likely to end up in hospital due to complications from COVID and flu infections.

Across WhatsApp we conducted an interview, where Adeel answered some questions I put to them, that hopefully explains just how important it is that we work together to increase vaccination in the area.

I don’t usually promote individual businesses, but I am going to quickly share my experiences before we get to the interview. I am considered by the NHS to be at high risk, so for years I’ve been offered the flu vaccine, and since the COVID vaccine was released I get offered that too. I hate needles, have done since I was a child. However, vaccines are so important, its worth the displeasure to be safer from infections. My most recently COVID booster and flu vaccine were done at the Roundhay Pharmacy, they were lovely, welcoming and professional, I’ve also had COVID and flu vaccinations at Imaan Pharmacy on Harehills Lane who I would also recommend if they’re offering the COVID jab (I know they’re still offering the flu vaccine, not sure about COVID).

The Interview – Why Vaccines Are Maligned And Why We Need To Do More To Get The Message Out

What are the most common misconceptions about vaccines you have encountered in your experience as a pharmacist?

Adeel: Vaccines receive such a poor reputation and many misconceptions are attached to them, many answered here by the World Health Organisation here
There are new misconceptions about the Covid vaccine causing infertility or changes to DNA; these are all entirely misleading. It is true that all medicines can have side effects, this is true of vaccines also and is well researched. With any treatment healthcare workers evaluate risk Vs benefit for the individuals concerned and on a population level. The risks of Covid and Flu infections are greater for some in society than for others. It is those at most risk of severe illness that are targeted and invited for vaccination to protect them. I would encourage anyone concerned about having a vaccine to come and speak to myself or any other healthcare professional. Especially if you have been invited for vaccination.

How do you think the lack of vaccination in the local area affects the community?

Adeel: Data has shown that the Harehills population are particularly poor at getting vaccinated. The figures from the UKHSA, (UK Health Security Agency), which monitors infectious diseases shows that parts of the population in places like Harehills are far more likely to end up in hospital with Flu or Covid than other parts of the city, (up to 2.6 times more likely). I have been a pharmacist in Harehills for 20 years and I have seen first hand patients refuse vaccination only to get a letter from the hospital a few weeks or months later stating they had complications following influenza or Covid. I have seen relatives anxious and consoled those who have had relatives pass away.

We can do many things to prevent ill health including; diet, exercise, lifestyle and self care through prevention of illness including through vaccination. Unfortunately in Harehills we fail in many of these aspects and average life expectancy in Harehills is 10 – 15 years less than that of the people Moortown or Adel. I am on a mission to change this and improving vaccination rates is part of this process.

What would you say to someone who is hesitant to get vaccinated?

Adeel: Come and discuss your concerns with me or any of our local pharmacies providing vaccination! Don’t rely on unsourced information from the internet or social media. Speak to your GP, Nurse or pharmacist. I have had both vaccinations because of a medical condition. Further when the campaign started many of the consultants and hospital workers from St James were coming for the vaccination as they could see how rife covid was at the time. If my car broke down I would get advice from the mechanic at the car garage – same applies to vaccination – speak to those who have trained in this field.

What are some of the vaccines’ most common side effects, and how can people manage them?

Adeel: The vast majority of people, have no side effects. The most common side effect is a sore arm or bruise at the injection site. A mild immune response is likely over the next one to two days . Very Rarely, some people feel faint or actually faint – and this is why we ask questions to find out those patients, and also ask you to sit in the waiting area a few minutes after injection, just to be certain. Anaphylaxis is extremely rare (5 per a million vaccines), again we take steps to identify and have emergency treatments available if this happens.

For many people needle phobia is an important factor in not having the vaccination. Going for a vaccination is not a pleasant task and many put it off. No one enjoys a stranger sticking a sharp object in your arm on cold rainy day. People find excuses to put off having the vaccine. I understand and am sympathetic however it is important to make the time for this – it only takes a few minutes to visit the pharmacy and have it done.

What role do you think pharmacists play in promoting vaccination and educating people about its benefits?

Adeel: The pharmacy NHS contract includes promotion of healthy lifestyles. This includes participation in health promotion campaigns throughout the year. Vaccination promotion is essentially the prevention of ill health. Pharmacies also campaign on eating healthily, stopping smoking and exercise. Pharmacy teams are accessible – no appointment needed and are very local so if you have any questions about living more healthily just speak to one of my team, or your regular pharmacy.

What are some of the most common myths about vaccines that you have come across, and how do you dispel them?

Adeel: At the moment I’m hearing a lot of – “I’ve already had my first two doses of covid vaccine – I don’t need any more!” The Corona Virus that causes COVID-19 has changed or mutated since 2019. The previous vaccine is not as effective as the current vaccine. The vaccine has been updated on five occasions to offer better protection against the latest versions of Covid circulating. It is important to have the latest version of the vaccine when you are invited. Only people at higher risk of illness are now invited for the vaccination – that is those over 65 and those with conditions such as Asthma, Diabetes, Cancer and heart disease, and also carers for vulnerable people. The full list of eligible cohorts is announced by NHS scientists to help protect the most vulnerable.

It is the same with Flu – the circulating virus changes each year so it is important to re-vaccinate each year.

Some people say it’s better for the body to let nature take its course or natural immunity is better. While there is some truth to this it also means weeks of avoidable illness, increased risk of hospitalisation, fatigue and a generally poor quality of life. Vaccination is protection from all these hardships in the same way that regular exercise protects against heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Some people tell me vaccination program is the government trying to control us.. While I agree that the government makes very questionable decisions about lots of things. The vaccination program is based on the advice of experts at the NHS. Some of the first people who come for their vaccinations were people working at St James Hospital. I had many consultants and virologists making an appointment. I would encourage people to listen to the experts and healthcare professionals rather than government ministers.

How do you think the lack of vaccination in the local area is affecting the most vulnerable members of the community?

Adeel: It saddens me when my patients end up in hospital with complications from Covid or Flu infection. While younger and healthy people can bounce back quickly from these infections t can take weeks of illness to recover for those who are at risk. It can result in weeks of time off work with illness. It can put huge pressure on family members in caring for those affected. The UKSHA research can be seen here.

I am worried that we will again see many of our community suffer unnecessarily. Flu has started circulating and the Chief Medical Officer issued a warning to all healthcare workers last week. Over the next few weeks we will see an increase in Flu infections especially as people visit friends and family over the holidays.

What are some of the most effective ways to encourage people to get vaccinated, and how can pharmacists help in this regard?

Adeel: If you or a relative have been invited for vaccination – just pop down to my pharmacy – all are welcome. Not all pharmacies offer vaccination services, however Roundhay Pharmacy has been offering this service for a long time. I started this service because I was well aware of the health discrepancy in our area compared to the more affluent parts of Leeds. You don’t need to be one of my regular patients to have the vaccination – just walk in and ask. If we cannot do it straight away we will arrange an appointment but most of the time we can do it straight away. If you just want to discuss any specific concerns that is fine also – we are here to help.

We also have access to multi language leaflets in the pharmacy explaining the benefits of vaccination. Pharmacists are well placed and accessible to deal with any concerns people may have.

Officially the Covid vaccination campaign closed on the 15th December, However I have been asked to keep going to increase vaccination rates in Harehills, so have some of the other pharmacies in Chapeltown and Harehills.