Agenda item

To receive an update on Covid and flu vaccinations.

Andrew Price, Locality Manager for Wokingham, BOB ICB, provided an update on Covid and flu vaccinations.

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

·       The focus of the Covid booster had been those in the at risk groups, either by age or by clinical condition.  Delivery sites had included the Broad St Mall Mass Vaccination Centre (now closed), community pharmacies, PCNs, the Health on the Move Van, and the Outreach site at Shute End.

·       72% of the 50 plus population in Wokingham had taken up the Autumn Covid booster (as of 30 November).  The figure for the ICB and England was 70% and 62% respectively.

·       Andrew Price highlighted the location of the fixed Covid vaccination delivery sites in the Borough.  The Board was reminded that community pharmacies and PCNs were able to decide whether they wanted to participate in the programme.  All six of the PCNs in the Borough had taken part.

·       With regards to the flu vaccination programme, the eligible cohorts differed slightly to those of the Covid vaccination programme.

·       Providers had been encouraged to co-administer the Covid and flu vaccines where possible.  Local data indicated that around 26% of people were having their two vaccines at the same time.

·       As of 30 October 2022, 66% of the Wokingham 65+ population had received a flu vaccination and 67% of the corresponding age group within the ICB and 65% in England.

·       The governance and monitoring around vaccinations was highlighted.  The Berkshire West Vaccination Action Group chaired by Susan Parsonage was the key oversight mechanism within Berkshire West.

·       A lot of work had been undertaken regarding communications since September.  However, the communication around Covid had been competing with a number of largescale interest items, such as the cost of living crisis.

·       The Board was updated on vaccination rates by various cohorts.

·       Wokingham had performed very well for delivering the booster vaccination to over 65s in care homes.  Performance was also very good for the 75+ population and the immunosuppressed.

·       There was not easily available data at a specific locality level for housebound residents, but it was believed that approximately 79.1% of the housebound population in Berkshire West had been vaccinated.

·       There was a much lower take up in women who were currently pregnant.  Discussions had been had with the Maternity lead at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, who would be attending the next Berkshire West Vaccination Action Group meeting to talk further about some of the initiatives that were being undertaken to improve vaccination levels.  The Board was informed that a video was being shot of a pregnant midwife at the hospital, explaining why having both the Covid and the flu vaccinations was beneficial.  In addition, there would be further training for midwives on how they offered the vaccine, and a midwife would go out on the Health on the Move van on some occasions, which would help to target areas of deprivation or where take up was low.

·       Performance was lower than previously for the vaccination of health and social care workers.  This was possibly partly the result of vaccination resourcing levels being less than previously.  There was also some evidence of vaccine fatigue.

·       The Board noted take up levels in the 65+ ethnicities.  Cohort sizes were small for non-White groups in the 65+ age groups.  Small numbers could mean identification of communities for targeted work was challenging.

·       With previous vaccinations the delivery level for the Indian population had largely matched that of the White British population. 

·       The Board noted the delivery level of the primary Covid vaccination course in 5-11 year olds.  Whilst Wokingham was performing the best in Berkshire West, take up was still low.

·       Vaccines were still available.  As of 8 December, there was 4,000 available appointments until the end of December within the community pharmacies in the Borough.

·       Alice Kunjappy-Clifton asked what more could be done to improve the take up of vaccinations in the Indian community.  Ethnic minorities were disproportionately impacted by Covid.  Andrew Price commented that he was not aware of any specific targeted initiatives for the Indian population. Previously take-up amongst the Indian ethnic group had been high, similar to that of White British.  Other communities with low take-up such as the Pakistani community, had been targeted.  Resources for engagement were much less than before.  Alice Kunjappy-Clifton asked that the issue be raised with the Berkshire West Vaccination Action Group.  Andrew Price added that work was being undertaken with a Muslim vaccine specialist whose work included looking at the ingredients of the vaccinations to determine if they were acceptable.

·       Ingrid Slade praised the work of Sarah O’Connor and her team.  She went on to ask what the offer would be for 5-11 year olds and 12-17 year olds from January, given that the Broad Street Mall vaccination centre had closed and the centre at Shute End was only commissioned until the end of December.  PCNs did not deliver to these age groups.  Andrew Price commented that a level of provision was being planned for across BOB, but at a much reduced level, and he would provide further detail outside of the meeting.

·       In response to a question from Councillor Bray, Andrew Price agreed to provide information on vaccination levels in 12-17 year olds.

·       Nick Fellowes questioned whether the low take up in health and social care in care homes was contributing to increased illness amongst workers and creating staff shortages.  Ingrid Slade commented that it was hard to judge the impact on workforce and illness as Covid testing was not being carried out in the same way as before.  There were capacity issues across health and social care, which were exacerbated by staff illness.  She went on to state that the social care staff had had a poorer vaccine offer than the health staff.  Vaccines were not offered to social care staff at their place of work.  Andrew Price commented that Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust had had a bus which had visited sites.  Communication and engagement as well as accessibility were also potential factors.

·       Sarah Webster stated that there had been a significant focus on Covid vaccinations over the past 2 years and in the new year it was intended to have a reflective learning around the governance structure, as there was a move to making Covid vaccinations as part of ‘business as usual.’

RESOLVED:  That the Covid and flu vaccination update be noted.