One of our supporters has met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to speak about diabetes and other health conditions, and the positive impact of the coronavirus vaccine.
Last week, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke via video call with one of our supporters, Shivali Modha, who is in remission from type 2 diabetes, alongside her family, husband, Hiren and daughters, Shyaama and Jyoti.
Shivali has been shielding with her family over the past year, and has now been invited to get her coronavirus vaccine as part of Priority Group 6. The family shared their experiences of the pandemic with Their Royal Highnesses and the positive impact the vaccine will have on their own lives moving forward.
Speaking to The Duke and Duchess, Shivali said:
“I think it’s important that we now move forward and I’m hopeful that more and more people do realise how important it is that they get their vaccination. And how lucky we are that we’re even able to access it... Just like this condition, this virus, the idea of this vaccination is new. But the more people that get it, you realise that actually it is helpful.”
We’re also pleased to announce that we’ve joined forces with the NHS, and the UK’s leading health charities to encourage people with long-term health conditions, including diabetes, to have their vaccine when invited.
This coalition of charities support people who are included in priority vaccination categories. This includes group 6, which covers people aged 16 to 64 with certain long-term conditions identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation as being at higher risk of being seriously ill from coronavirus.
If you have a long-term health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, severe asthma, or conditions which affect the nerves and brain, it’s very important to get the vaccine as some health conditions can make it harder for you to fight off viruses and diseases.
If you have a condition that means you have a high risk of getting infections, or if you are taking medicine that can affect your immune system, it is also very important for you to get the vaccine, to help protect you against coronavirus.
Most people with diabetes are in priority group six and this group is now being invited to get their vaccine.
If you’ve got a specific question, or you want to talk to someone about coronavirus or coronavirus vaccines more generally, please give our confidential helpline a call. Our highly trained advisors have expert diabetes knowledge and can talk you through the information you need. Or if you just want to chat, they’re there for that too.
