Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Offices, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1BN. View directions

Contact: Madeleine Shopland  Democratic & Electoral Services Specialist

Media

Items
No. Item

20.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor Tahir Maher.

21.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

22.

Public Question Time

To answer any public questions

 

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

 

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of this committee.

 

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Committee or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

23.

Member Question Time

To answer any member questions

Minutes:

There were no Member questions.

 

24.

Covid Vaccination update

To receive an update on the Covid vaccination programme in Wokingham Borough and plans for next steps in this.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update on Covid vaccinations within the Borough.

 

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

 

·       Katie Summers, Berkshire West lead for vaccinations and Director for Place Partnerships for the NHS Berkshire West CCG, provided an update on the vaccination programme.

·       Kate Summers took the Committee through a timeline of the Covid vaccination programme.

·       In December 2020 the first Hospital Hub programme had begun.  The vaccination of cohorts up to the age of 18 was still continuing, however a new phase was also beginning; the booster programme and vaccinating 12-15 year olds.

·       The first phase of vaccinations had focused on the most vulnerable including those in care homes and over 80’s.  These were carried out in the primary care centres.

·       In January 2021, the first mass vacation site had opened at the Kassam, followed by the Madejski Stadium in February.  By February Cohorts 5-6 were being vaccinated.

·       Different delivery mechanisms such as the Health on the Move van had also been used, which had made a big difference in vaccination levels.

·       Katie Summers highlighted the number of people vaccinated in the different months across the BOB ICS.  As an Integrated Care System, the BOB ICS, performed the best for vaccination rates in the country.

·       Katie Summers went on to outline Phases 1 to 3 of the programme. 

·       In Phase 1, from December 2020, residents in care homes and older adults and their carers, frontline carers, the extremely clinically vulnerable, 16-64 with underlying health conditions and those aged 50 plus, had begun to be vaccinated.  Until April the focus had tended to be on undertaking first vaccinations.  This had then shifted to second vaccinations, due to the good uptake in vaccines.  Also, evidence had suggested a better outcome following two doses of the vaccine. 

·       Phase 2 had been staged from April 2021 and focused on vaccinating those 18 and over.  Since August 2021 the vaccination of 16–17-year-olds and clinically vulnerable 12-15 years old, had begun.  From September 2021 the vaccination of 12-15 year olds would begin. 

·       Anyone over aged 18 and over who had still not been vaccinated were still encouraged to be, and would be offered a vaccination. 

·       Members were informed that Phase 3, boosters, had begun that week.  Anyone living in a care home or who was over 70, or a front-line care home worker would be offered a booster initially.  Boosters would be offered 6 months from the second vaccination.  Immunosuppressed residents would receive an invitation to have a booster 3 months after their second dose.  Following this the remaining cohorts would be offered boosters.  Katie Summers indicated that Pfizer was approved for boosters by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).  A half dose of Moderna could also possibly be offered.  This was currently undergoing the approval process by the JCVI.  A Member questioned whether Pfizer and Moderna would be compatible for those who had originally received the Astra Zeneca vaccine, and if so, how this would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.