To receive an update on COVID-19 vaccinations.
Minutes:
Jane Scattergood, Covid-19 Vaccination Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria, outlined the current position on the progress of the vaccination programme to date. A presentation was circulated to the Board, with further details on the following areas contained within it:
· Covid-19 Vaccination sites across Lancashire County Council locality
· Timeline for delivery of cohorts and conclusion of the programme
· Vaccination summary for health and social care staff
· Vaccination summary for care homes
· Cohort 2 80+ - detailed by area/district in Lancashire
· Cohort 3 75+ detailed by area/district in Lancashire
· Cohort 4 70+ and Clinically Extremely Vulnerable detailed by area/district in Lancashire
The timeline for delivery of cohorts and conclusion of the programme of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation 1-9 cohorts which were determined by SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) and would reduce the incidents of serious illness and hospitalisation and death by 98% was outlined. The national target is 15 April 2021 to complete first doses and a local ambition has been set for 31 March 2021. The vaccine supply has been constrained and remains constrained, however, there is a clear message that there will be lots of vaccinations available from 15 March 2021 onwards. The Prime Minister set a national target of conclusion of completion of the whole adult population (16-50 year olds) by the end of July 2021, however it is uncertain currently as to whether this is for one or both doses of the vaccination.
The vaccination uptake for Health and Social Care staff was reported to be better in Lancashire than nationally. In terms of the flu vaccine uptake it is normally around 50-60% of NHS staff and 30% of Social Care staff, therefore the figures detailed in the presentation, showed an increase in uptake in terms of the Covid-19 vaccine, however, there is still more work to do on this in terms of protecting critical workforce and more importantly, the workforce these people serve.
Older adult care homes have 100% coverage of offer across Lancashire and there are a handful of individuals in care homes who have either declined or are too unwell to receive the vaccination at this point. The Board also noted that every Learning Disability Care Home, as well as Mental Health Care Homes, have a planned visit for the vaccination programme in place.
Vaccination numbers across Lancashire are well in excess of 90% of vaccine uptake in Cohort 2 – 80+ and Cohort 3 – 75+ with an offer of 100% to all residents in those cohorts. Cohort 4 – 70+ and clinically extremely vulnerable uptake again is in excess of 90%.
Abdul Razaq, Interim Consultant in Public Health, Lancashire County Council continued with the presentation including:
· National latest – ONS (Office for National Statistics) Coronavirus and vaccine hesitancy, 13 January 2021 to 7 February 2021
· COVID vaccination health inclusion groups
· Addressing low COVID vaccine uptake
· Current Lancashire activities
The Board noted that the main reasons of vaccine hesitancy, which are fuelled by social media and negative aspects is primarily around side effects, long term effects on health and how well the vaccine actually works. All of these points can be addressed in terms of communication messages which have been strong and robust by Healthier Lancashire and Lancashire County Council.
The vulnerable populations who are likely to require further support from the NHS and the broader community to improve uptake have been identified. Work is ongoing with these groups, to direct them either to Primary Care Networks, vaccination sites or provide an outreach model through Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust.
In terms of addressing low COVID vaccine uptake, as the data improves, it allows to target interventions. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Community Champions Funding of approximately £2m has been received by Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council and six Lancashire District Councils. Some programmes of work are focussing on ethnic minority communities, disabilities and also underserved populations and there are multiple projects underway through Community Champions Community Connectors, working alongside grassroots organisations to support the message around safety and allay some of those fears.
Following the presentation, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health, Lancashire County Council thanked and congratulated Jane Scattergood and NHS colleagues and also local authority volunteers and residents who have enthusiastically come forward for vaccinations, which is approximately 92-95% in the cohorts 1-4. The uptake in lower aged groups, particularly the frontline workforce needs more encouragement, including contractual levers to keep people safe and prevent transmission of the virus. To get herd immunity, there needs to be between 85-90% of the total Lancashire population to have immune response. Therefore, what is done now, is what really matters and will support the release from lockdown successfully. The Board were encouraged to speak and champion the vaccines and promote the uptake of them and also advocate for Lancashire to have the supplies needed.
The Board thanked Jane Scattergood and her team for all their efforts on the vaccination programme and local authorities also and their colleagues in the rollout of vaccines.
Resolved: That the Board noted the update on the progress of the vaccination programme in Lancashire, to date.