Agenda item

Report of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Committee considered the report and a presentation from the Programme Director Vaccination Programme and Clinical Lead Vaccination Programme relating to the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme update.

The presentation detailed the following information:

·       Progress so far – the statistics for number of vaccines delivered and percentages for uptake were presented. There was high vaccine uptake in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, everyone over 50 (92%), in next cohort (86%) and in 330 care homes all residents had received vaccines (100%).  Housebound people were being visited in their homes and the Programme Director was particularly proud of the delivery to harder to reach residents and people with learning disability. Staffordshire had been selected as one of 21 sites nationally to deliver the Moderna vaccine, Tunstall now delivered three vaccines on site Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer Vaccines. The vaccine supply had been sporadic, but it was confirmed that no vaccines had been wasted. 

·       Phases of the Vaccination Programme – there were four phases to the programme,  there would also be a refresh of the programme structure and modelling roll out to include flu vaccine, possible booster vaccine and secondary school children age 12-18. In the long term there would be a strategy for flu and Covid vaccines and immunisations.

·       Responding to the new variant and priority areas – it was confirmed that second doses had recently been moved forward from 12 weeks to 8 weeks.  Double doses were more effective against new variants.

·       Ongoing work with Public Health to identify outbreaks of new variants. It was identified that there had been a low uptake in areas of Stoke on Trent and Burton, which were being specifically targeted. They were extending the vaccination in Leek to include everyone over 18 (cohort 12) and it was confirmed that there was sufficient moderna vaccine to facilitate this with no impact on programme delivery.

·       Second doses – There were enough vaccines available to deliver.

·       Site locations – There were 23 local vaccination centres, managed by GPs in Primary Care Network (PCN), 1 pharmacy site and three large scale vaccination centres, and some were delivered via GP surgeries. There was good local access to vaccines. Some PCN sites had opted out of cohort 10-12 younger age groups.

·       Targeted vaccination service – This was about working differently with partners, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue take NHS teams to sites, mosques, fruit farms, afro Caribbean society, and some large employers to put on pop-up clinics. Also, Universities have been targeted before students leave for the summer. There was focussed work on inequalities due to lower uptake in Bangladeshi communities and other groups, which was showing an increase in uptake.

·       Myths and challenges – Vaccine hesitancy amongst some of the population. They were working to respond to questions raised, such as impact of vaccine on fertility, pregnancy and similar concerns, also work was ongoing to encourage hesitant people to get vaccination. There has been a lot of myth busting, but as an approach it was working. 

·       AstraZeneca – Risk of blood clots – It was reported that the blood clot risk was a fraction of the risk of taking oral contraceptive, about 4 cases per million doses.

·       Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Covid-19 Vaccination Programme – The system and partnership working had been hugely enjoyable and a productive experience. There had been work across the boundaries which had been a mutually beneficial experience.  There was work around inequalities, not leaving people behind, where the programme had reached 100% of people across Staffordshire. It had taken effort, focus and a good communication strategy that met the needs of the different group to achieve it. This was a great example of Health, Care, and the public sector pulling together.

·       Although there were fewer cases in care homes now, the message was don’t let your guard down keep the guidelines of hands face space and outdoor space.

The Committee noted the following comments and responses to questions raised:

·       Inequalities were particularly relevant.

·       Vaccine webinar – 16^th June 2021 for all members across Staffordshire to provide a Covid Vaccination update.

·       Currently in Leek vaccinations were being booked on event brite, 600 slots per day were published for over 18s to book. People had to take proof of residency or school when attending for the vaccination.  It was noted that although currently this was outside of the national programme, the national booking system would open to cohort 12 later that week.

·       In relation to a question about time to receive test results and surge testing in Leek, it was agreed to request the test and trace team to respond to the member following the meeting.

·       Early conversations with the Midlands Combined Health Partnership (MCHP) were ongoing to consider provision of vaccines in schools for 12-18 year old cohort.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Covid-19 Update be noted;

2.    That the </AI5>

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Committee expressed its support and gratitude for the work being carried out by the Vaccine Programme Team, Partners, and volunteers across Staffordshire.