Croydon residents aged 70 and over who have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19 are now being invited to contact the NHS to arrange a jab.
Until now, the NHS has asked everyone to wait until they are contacted so that they can focus on vaccinating those who are most vulnerable first, ensuring that they have the best possible protection against the virus.
That remains the case for most people – however, if you are over 70 and have not yet been offered a vaccine, or were offered but didn’t accept or attend, please do come forward now. You still need to book an appointment and you can do this at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119. If a suitable slot is not available you can also call your GP practice. You will only be able to book if you have yet to have your first dose – if you have already had your first dose, please wait for the NHS to contact you about your second.
If you are feeling unsure about taking up your Covid-19 vaccination, then please do equip yourself with as much information as possible before making your decision. You can find out more about the vaccine on the NHS website. Our public health team continue to work with our local NHS and community partners to help you access the facts and ask any questions you might have.
More than 600 people registered for the Croydon BME Forum’s panel debate on the vaccine last night, which is fantastic and I want to thank everyone who is organising and participating in these community events. Ima Miah, chief executive of Croydon’s Asian Resource Centre, is among those who have been helping residents to access information – she received her own vaccination this week and shared her story here.
To keep up-to-date with vaccine news and community events, subscribe to our Your Croydon weekly e-bulletin here.
Community safety
My thoughts remain with all those whose lives have been impacted by the devastating events of last weekend, when one young man lost his life and others were seriously injured in a series of stabbings.
I know many of you will, like me, be appalled at this tragic waste of life and I want to assure you that we are working closely with the police and with communities across Croydon to prevent this violence. In recent years, Croydon has united as one community to tackle the root causes of knife crime and together we have achieved a significant reduction. But it is not enough – we must do more. This kind of violence has no place in our borough and we will be doing all we can to tackle it.
Apply now to vote by post in the London mayoral elections
The London mayoral and London Assembly elections are due to take place on 6 May and I would encourage anyone who is thinking of applying for a postal vote this year, to do so as soon as possible.
Anyone can register for a postal vote, allowing you to vote from home.
On the application for postal vote, you do not need to give a reason, but will need to give us your date of birth and signature, and again when you complete your postal vote. We will compare these to keep your vote secure.
The deadline to apply for elections in May is 5pm, Tuesday, 20 April 2021. The earlier you apply, the earlier we can send your postal vote.
You can find out more and apply on our election webpage.
Croydon referendum
On Monday, councillors voted to hold a public referendum in October, for residents to decide whether they want either a new, directly-elected borough mayor.
This is an important decision for Croydon residents about how their council is run, and holding the referendum later this year means we have more time to make it as safe as possible given the continuing pandemic.
I hope as many local people as possible will have their say on this issue, so if you are a Croydon resident and are eligible to vote, make sure you are registered so you can take part.
LGBT+ History Month
February is LGBT+ History Month and an opportunity to discover and celebrate our borough’s LGBT+ history. If you haven’t already, you can join local artist Mark Goldby for his Queer+ Croydon exhibition, now available to view online, through the Museum of Croydon.
Chinese New Year
Finally, I would like to wish all our Chinese residents and everyone who is celebrating, a very Happy New Year today. Stay at home, celebrate safely and have a good weekend.
Yours,
Councillor Hamida Ali, leader of the council
