Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Home

Header Top Menu

  • News & Featured Stories
  • Media
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Our Science

    Sub Menu 1

    • Pfizer in the UK
      • Our History
      • Pharmaceutical Sciences
      • Devices Centre of Excellence
      • Global Regulatory Affairs
      • Material Characterisation Team
      • Anti-Counterfeit Laboratory
    • Our Therapy Areas
      • Anti-Infectives
      • Inflammation and Immunology
      • Internal Medicine
      • Oncology
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccines

    Sub Menu 2

    • Developing New Medicines
      • Clinical Trials
      • Pipeline
    • Research partnerships
      • ADDoPT
      • Innovative Target Exploration Network (ITEN)
      • INSPIRE Programme
      • Medical Research Council Collaboration
      • The Stratified Medicine Programme
      • Partnership with Regeneron for UK Biobank exome sequencing
    • Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives
    Hot Topic

    Re-shaping Cancer

    Re-shaping cancer
  • Products

    Sub Menu 4

    • Prescription medicines

    Sub Menu 5

    • Safety of Medicines
      • Medicines Regulation
      • Reporting Side Effects
      • Counterfeit Medicines
    Hot Topic

    Vaccines partnerships

    Vaccines partnerships
  • Responsibility

    Sub Menu 7

    • Transparency
      • HCP & HCO Annual Disclosure Reports
      • Healthcare Organisation Grants
      • Research and Development Funding
      • Patient Organisation Funding and Support
    • Codes of Conduct
      • Gender Pay Gap Report
      • Section 172 Statements
      • Pfizer UK Modern Slavery Statement
      • Pfizer UK Tax Strategy

    Sub Menu 8

    • Environmental Sustainability
      • Climate Action
      • Global Actions
      • Our Partnerships & Commitments
      • Sustainable Medicines
      • UK Actions
    • Insurance Details
    • Animal Welfare
    Hot Topic

    Putting Patients First

    Putting Patients First
  • UK Society

    Sub Menu 10

    • Social Investment
      • Volunteering and Fundraising
      • Medicines Donations
    • Raising Public Awareness
      • Change the Course
      • Pfizer Sponsors Science Museum Group's 'Cancer Revolution' Exhibition
      • Pfizer Sponsors the Superhero Series
      • Pfizer sponsors Science Museum exhibition 'Superbugs'
      • Pfizer at the British Science Festival
      • Turning Heads at Westminster

    Sub Menu 11

    • Science Education
      • Developing Science Talent
      • 'Superbugs Join The Fight' School Programme
      • Online Learning
        • Student Education Area
        • Teacher Resources
      • Community Lab
      • Career Talks
      • Lab in a Box
    • Pfizer Worldwide
      • Global Health Fellows
      • Global Aid and Emergency Relief
      • International Trachoma Initiative
    Hot Topic

    'Superbugs' Competition Winners

    Superbugs Winners
  • UK Health System

    Sub Menu 16

    • Working with the NHS and other Healthcare Organisations
      • Collaborative Working
        • Collaborative Working Project between Lloyds Pharmacy and Pfizer Vaccines
        • Joint Working
      • Donations and Grants
        • Independent Medical Grants and Donations
        • Donations of Goods, Services and Benefit in Kind
        • Grants
        • Donations and Grants Enquiry Form
    • Working with Healthcare Professionals
      • FAQs: Working with Healthcare Professionals
      • Pharmacy
      • Healthcare Professionals Congress Sponsorship

    Sub Menu 17

    • Working with Patient Organisations
      • Patient Involvement in Research and Development
      • Our ongoing partnership with the UK Sepsis Trust
      • Partnering with the NIHR and young people on clinical research
    • Pfizer Healthcare Hub
      • Pfizer Healthcare Hub: 2018
      • Pfizer Healthcare Hub: 2017
      • Connect with the Hub
    Hot topic

    Osteoarthritis

    Osteoarthritis
  • News & Featured Stories
  • Media
  • Careers

    Carrers

    • Search Current Vacancies
    • Apprenticeships
      • Apprenticeship Vacancies
    • Undergraduate Placements
      • Undergraduate Vacancies
    • Meet our people
    • UK Top Employer
    • How Pfizer is fostering meaningful growth for every colleague, everywhere
  • Contact Us
  • Footer links

    Footer mobile menu

    • Footer Menu
    • Footer menu
      • Contact Us
      • Cookie Policy
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Sitemap
    • Footer social item
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

The threat of a second wave must remind us why the clinically vulnerable need our support now more than ever

The threat of a second wave must remind us why the clinically vulnerable need our support now more than ever
News & Featured Stories/ The threat of a second wave must remind us why the clinically vulnerable need our support now more than ever
12/10/2020

Monica Nijher
Inflammation & Immunology Medical Lead, Pfizer UK

While everyone has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, those considered ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ have arguably felt the impact more than most. Prior to COVID-19, day-to-day life was already tough for people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease and long-term, chronic conditions like Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease, but we now have a role to play in ensuring these individuals are supported?

 

At the beginning of ‘lockdown’ back in March, over 2 million people with underlying health conditions were asked to shield, to help protect them from being infected and the increased risk of complications.1 Those receiving treatment for inflammatory bowel conditions may take biologic and immunosuppressive medicines or corticosteroids, which could increase their vulnerability to COVID-19.2

For many on the shielding list, being careful about avoiding unnecessary viral risks – especially over the winter months – is not new. For anyone, being told you or your family are at increased risk is frightening. With approximately 300,000 people living with IBD3 (including many children and young people) COVID-19 has meant months of anxiety, isolation and worry, exacerbated with potential challenges around accessing routine medication or care. The impact of the potential return to shielding should not be underestimated.

Some patients have coped with delayed surgery, or disruption to vital, ongoing treatment,4 with the British Society of Gastroenterology redeploying 66% of gastroenterologists to look after Covid-19 patients at the peak of the crisis.4 And the psychological impact can go hand-in-hand with the increased medical risk. For patients, increased stress can cause a stress-induced flare up and potentially the need for emergency hospital treatment.5
 

With approximately 300,000 people living with IBD3 (including many children and young people) COVID-19 has meant months of anxiety, isolation and worry, exacerbated with potential challenges around accessing routine medication or care." 

It has not been all bad news. COVID-19 has accelerated change in how patients can access healthcare. The huge increase in video and phone consultations has demonstrated significant benefits through delivering high-quality, easy-to-access online care which could lead to more innovative delivery of healthcare in the longer term.6 However, while some patients may value the added flexibility of virtual care models, the true benefits will be seen over time to ensure digital is not a barrier to some accessing care.

Over the summer, the ease of lockdown and end of shielding was welcomed by many – the chance to see family and friends, go to the pub, travel abroad; to return to a semblance of normality. However, for people with conditions like IBD and Crohn’s disease, a return to ‘normal’ remains out of reach. Returning to work or school safely, attending family gatherings, or even a trip to the local supermarket may still pose too high a risk. There even remains ongoing practical issues around everyday activities like a simple trip to the park. Many public toilets remain unopened. The lack of available public facilities has always been a problem for those with IBD, and this has been made even worse in recent months.

With cases rising and some restrictions tightening, we have an important role to play as a society in supporting the clinically vulnerable. Many people living with IBD (and plenty of other underlying health conditions too) may have an ‘unseen’ disability and are even more susceptible to infection. That’s why wearing masks, increased handwashing, social distancing, and adhering to local guidance becomes even more important – protecting yourself but more importantly, helping protect some of the most at-risk who may be shielding again – or perhaps never stopped.

From a mental health perspective, we should be mindful that for some IBD sufferers – and those with other underlying health conditions – the ongoing uncertainty around a return to shielding may in itself cause fear and anxiety. Above all, we need to remain understanding, sensitive and supportive, and show our willingness to protect each other and minimise the risk of infection.

 

References

  1. Office for National Statistics. Coronavirus and shielding of clinically extremely vulnerable people in England: 28 May to 3 June 2020 Accessed Nov 2021.
  2. Crohn's and Colitis. Coronavirus (COVID-19): What your risk means for you Accessed Nov 2021.
  3. Bowel Disease Research Foundation. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Accessed Nov 2021.
  4. British Society of Gastroenterology. Survey Results: The effect of COVID-19 on gastroenterology Accessed Nov 2021.
  5. Crohn's and Colitis. Crohn's Disease Accessed Nov 2021.
  6. NHS. Millions of patients benefiting from remote consultations as family doctors respond to COVID-19 Accessed Nov 2021.

 

PP-PFE-GBR-4223 / November 2021

Related Hot Topics
AMR Reimbursement Pilot Launch
World First Cross-Industry Initiative Launches in the Continued Fight Against…
What is a Variant
What is a Variant?
COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
Working To Reach Everyone, Everywhere
VacciNation report
VacciNation: tackling health inequalities across England
Patients at heart of clinical trials
Why putting patients at the heart of Pfizer UK’s clinical trials continues to…
Infection Management Coalition Paper
Cross-Industry Coalition Tackling ‘Hidden Pandemic’ of Antibiotic Resistant…
Blueprint for gene therapy adoption
Pfizer UK launch blueprint for the UK adoption of cell and gene therapies
Inhealthcare
Inhealthcare: where are they now?
Tags
COVID-19
UK Health System
Inflammation and Immunology

Footer

  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

Footer aside

  • Footer Aside
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

Copyright © 2017-2022 Pfizer Limited. PP-PFE-GBR-4248 / Nov 2021. All rights reserved. Registered in England and Wales No. 526209. Registered office: Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9NJ. VAT No. GB201048427