Agenda item

The Borough Based Director provided an update on the COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination programmes in Bromley.

Board Members had been provided with a map showing the COVID-19 vaccination sites across the Borough, and it was noted that additional pharmacies were now deploying COVID-19 vaccinations.

With regards to cohorts eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, the Borough Based Director advised that from 11^th November 2021 it would be mandatory for care home staff, including visiting professionals, to have received two doses. There would also continue to be an evergreen offer for all adults to receive two doses of the vaccine.

In the summer, the 16–17-year-olds had been added to the list of eligible cohorts, and one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine had been offered via walk-ins or invitations from GP’s. in Bromley, uptake by this cohort currently stood at around 55% – it was emphasised that the programme was ongoing, and that this figure was much higher than some other boroughs (around 35%). Another programme underway was for 12–15-year-olds with underlying health conditions. This cohort would receive two doses of the vaccine, by invite only, at GP-led or hospital vaccination services. It was noted that this cohort had recently been expanded, and national indemnity was awaited.

Vaccination programmes due to commence included a third primary dose for individuals who were severely immunosuppressed at the time of vaccination; a universal offer of one dose to 12–15-year-olds; and booster doses for the over 50’s, frontline staff, and those who were vulnerable or at risk. In response to questions regarding the vaccination of 12–15-year-olds, the Borough Based Director said that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had looked at the science and evidence and considered that the vaccinations would provide three main benefits – children were less likely to miss school; they were less likely to contract Long Covid (which was thought to affected 1 in 10 of the general population); and it supported the reduction of the spread of COVID-19 in the community. It was stressed that children would not be coerced into having the vaccination. If a child was deemed competent to make a decision, and they decided to have the vaccine, they would be given it – and if parental consent was given, but a child said they did not want to receive the vaccine, they would not be given it. It was highlighted that if a child was not deemed able to make a decision, they would not be asked to do so.

The Borough Based Director said that Bromley continued to benefit from a high overall rate of vaccine uptake. Throughout June and July, the OneBromley system participated in a vaccine ‘sprint’ to achieve maximum uptake amongst all eligible cohorts in advance of lockdown easing. GP practices continued to reach out to patients at greatest risk of severe illness, including pregnant people, and door-knocking, leafleting and pop-up clinics had taken place. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) were operating an SEL call centre to assist further, contacting age groups where uptake was lower. Care home residents and staff uptake had continued to rise as part of the ongoing offer, with targeted education and information events to address queries and concerns. It was anticipated that figures for staff vaccinations would increase further as they were made compulsory from 11^th November.

With regards to the workforce delivering the vaccination programme, the Brough Based Director advised that in addition to the core general practice teams continuing to play a critical role at sites (GPs, nurses, Health Care Assistants, pharmacists and clerical staff), volunteers were also provided through Community Links Bromley, Royal Voluntary Service and GoodSAM, and further support via Patient Participation Groups and community groups.

There were disparities across the population in terms of health, COVID-19 infection and vaccinations, with some ethnic groups and occupations more likely to catch, and be impacted by, COVID-19. Some issues, such as being untrusting of establishments, resulted in lower uptake of the vaccine, and work had been undertaken in order to help address this. SEL CCG and partner organisations had worked with this population to provide them with all the information they needed to decide if they should have the vaccine. Promotion and pop-up clinics had been centred around communities with lower uptake, and dedicated clinics had been reaching out to the most vulnerable residents.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the flu vaccination programme would also be delivered to an expanded cohort this year, including secondary school age children and 50–64-year-olds. There had been some slight delays in the supply of the flu vaccines, however some GPs and pharmacies were starting to deliver the programme. It was noted that the secondary school offer for 11-16 years olds was delivered via a different service. With regards to preparing for winter 2021/22, the Borough Based Director highlighted that the circulation of flu had been very limited in the 2020/21 season and as a result, a lower level of population immunity against flu was expected this winter. It was anticipated that this would be the first winter when seasonal influenza virus (and other respiratory viruses) would co-circulate alongside COVID-19. To mitigate the potential impact it was important that the general population continued to wear face masks and maintain social distancing. The NHS would vaccinate additional cohorts with the flu vaccination and aimed for a high uptake to maximise protection. There was an ambition to vaccinate at least 85% of the over 65s cohort – in previous years, Bromley had been the most successful borough for vaccinating this age group and had been ranked in the top three boroughs for several of the other cohorts.

The Chairman extended thanks of behalf of the Board to the Borough Based Director, and her team, for all of the work undertaken to deliver the vaccination programmes across the Borough.

RESOLVED that the SEL CCG update be noted.