With regards to the following document Care Homes Update 141121, can you answer the following questions:
1. Why on page 3 of the document does the report state that vaccinations commenced on 24th December 2020, but the graphs show dates in October and November without specifying the year?
The statement that vaccinations for COVID-19 for both staff and residents in care homes commenced on 24th December 2020 is accurate. The graphs next to this statement show cumulative vaccination and booster rates. The dates in October and November refer to the booster campaign that began in October 2021.
2. Why on page 5 of the document does the graph show peaks of deaths in December 2020, January/February 2021, and other months, but the paragraph states that deaths were concentrated in March-April 2020 and January/February 2021?
The graph on page 5 shows care home outbreaks in Devon from 30/11/2020 to 15/11/2021. The peaks in December 2020, January/February 2021, and February/March 2021 reflect significant outbreaks during these periods. The paragraph underneath the graph mentions that COVID-19 deaths were concentrated in March-April 2020 and January/February 2021. While the graph does not include data from March-April 2020 due to the format in which data was collected at that time, it accurately represents the second peak of fatalities from December 2020 to February 2021. The statement about the vaccine decreasing the severity of outbreaks is supported by the observed reduction in fatalities following the completion of the initial vaccine rollout.