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Agenda item

Vaccination programme update

Minutes:

The Board considered a presentation from Jo Reeves (Agenda Item 5) on the vaccination programme. Key points were as follows:

  • 233,009 vaccinations had been given to residents of West Berkshire.
  • 87.2% of residents aged 16+ had received at least one dose, and 80.2% had received both doses.
  • 64.6% of 16-17 year olds had received their first vaccination.
  • Clinics at Northcroft and Kennet School had been popular.
  • Some vaccines had been offered in Lambourn, targeted at the racing community.
  • Vaccines had also been offered at the Community United cricket match.
  • Some residents from West Berkshire had gone to neighbouring areas to get their vaccine, including Reading and Basingstoke.
  • Only 29% of 16-17 year olds in the most deprived areas of Greenham had received their vaccine compared to 42% in the most deprived area of Thatcham Central, but the cohort was very small and although the percentage difference appeared significant, the difference was just three people.

·         Planning was underway for vaccinating vulnerable 12-15 year olds, and third doses for severely immunosuppressed patients, and shadow planning was underway for a universal offer to 12-15 year olds, and booster doses.

Councillor Lynne Doherty asked why 16-17 year olds West Berkshire in West Berkshire did not have the same vaccination opportunities as those in Reading and Bracknell, and noted that Boots and the Kennet Centre were not offering vaccinations to this cohort. Jo Reeves responded that local Primary Care Networks (PCNs) had been involved in Phase 1 of the vaccination programme, but not Phase 2. People aged 18-50 had been given their vaccination at a mass vaccination centre, a pop-up clinic or a community pharmacy. Because the PCNs were not participating in Phase 2, they were unable to mobilise at short notice to cover the 16-17 age group. However, she noted that most surgeries would be opting into Phase 3 to give booster jabs.

Councillor Doherty asked why the PCNs had not agreed to be involved in Phase 2. The Chairman suggested that it was something to raise at Health and Wellbeing Board or with the Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee. Jo Reeves noted that the vaccination centre at Newbury Racecourse had been a huge undertaking and surgeries had been keen to get back to patient care.

Councillor Jo Stewart asked whether it would be possible for somebody living in West Berkshire to be vaccinated in a walk-in centre outside of the district. Jo Reeves responded that it would be possible, as boundaries did not apply when using the national booking service, and residents were encouraged to be vaccinated at the centre nearest to them. However, if they were using their local service, they had to wait for their GP to invite them to visit a local site, which may be shared between surgeries.

Councillor Steve Masters asked if there was a timetable for future pop-up vaccination centres. Jo Reeves responded within the presentation that there would be two vaccination dates at Newbury College on 13-14th September, Hungerford Town Hall on 16th September, and Riverside Community Centre on 25th September.

Councillor Doherty asked if there was a plan for the vaccination bus/van to return in eight weeks for second vaccinations.

Councillor Dominic Boeck asked if it was beneficial for people to make bookings at pop-up clinics. Jo Reeves responded that it was advised to book, but the centres were prepared for drop-in residents.

Councillor Masters asked whether there would be pop-up clinics in rural parts of the east of the district. Jo Reeves responded that there was a conflicting demand between pop-up centres for second doses and finding new sites. She confirmed that analysis was being done to see where facilities would be most effective.

The Chairman noted that West of Reading Villages PCN was operating out of Pangbourne while the other PCNs were reliant on walk-in sites, pop-ups or the vaccine van. Jo Reeves observed that there were still parts of Newbury Town Centre with low take-up rates. She noted that a combination of mass vaccination, localised approaches through the PCNs and neighbourhood approaches utilising the van had worked well.

The Chairman asked if there was a difference between a third primary dose and a booster dose. Jo Reeves and Meradin Peachey confirmed that there was not.

Supporting documents: