Issue - meetings

Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Team Manager.

Including updates on local vaccination efforts.

RECEIVED the slide presentation, introduced by Roseanna Kennedy-Smith, Senior Public Health Intelligence Specialist.

NOTED

1.    Uptake of Covid-19 Autumn booster and flu vaccinations in Enfield was reported, across wards and cohorts. There was a decrease week on week in the numbers of Covid-19 booster vaccinations.

2.    Uptake of childhood immunisations was also reported. A decreasing trend in uptake had been noted since 2017.

IN RESPONSE

3.    Vivien Giladi asked about further planned Covid-19 booster vaccinations. It was advised that a booster in Spring 2023 was expected for immune-compromised populations across all ages, designed to boost their immunity. There would be a booster in Autumn 2023 for all older people. Clarification on available information would be provided to Board members.

ACTION:  Dudu Sher-Arami

Post Meeting Note:  The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation [JCVI] advised on 7^th March that it had recommended an extra booster dose in spring of 2023 should be offered to:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed.

This additional dose should be offered around 6 months after the last previous dose.

4.   In response to Members’ queries, it was acknowledged there was a common perception that Covid-19 was ‘over’, but that the data from booster programmes did show that people who should be having booster vaccinations were taking them up.

5.   In response to Members’ concern and queries in relation to childhood immunisations and reasons why uptake had fallen, it was confirmed that Enfield statistics were generally in line with North Central London and London overall. A small scale survey carried out by NHS England had shown that hesitancy was, for the majority, not linked to accessibility or convenience of vaccination sites. Some people wanted greater discussion with health professionals, but there was no clear cut very strong reason for those not taking up childhood immunisations. The vaccinations had previously, and still were, delivered in primary care locations. The Borough Partnership had a Screening and Immunisation sub-group and had developed a detailed and extensive immunisation plan to use to oversee work being done to raise immunisation uptake. The trends were concerning, and a lot of actions were going on to reverse those trends. The action plan would be shared with Board members, and an update provided to a future Board meeting on what improvements there had been in the uptake.

ACTION:  Deborah McBeal

Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Team Manager.

Including updates on Covid-19, Influenza, Polio, MPX Vaccination Programmes.

PAPER SENT TO FOLLOW

RECEIVED the slide presentation, introduced by Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Team Manager.

NOTED

1.    Uptake of Covid-19 Autumn booster and flu vaccinations in Enfield was reported, across wards and cohorts.

2.    Childhood and catch-up polio immunisation uptake was also reported.

IN RESPONSE

3.    In response to Members’ queries, additional measures to address variations in vaccination uptake within communities were described, including community engagement and communications. Funding had been awarded for a vaccine champions programme from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities. A full report was being prepared for the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel meeting on 19/1/23, which would also be circulated to Board Members (see link Agenda for Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel on Thursday, 19th January, 2023, 7.00 pm | Enfield Council ). It was advised that residents wanted to hear health messages from trusted sources within communities. In respect of vaccination take-up by pregnant women, Public Health officers were working closely with North Middlesex Hospital on a plan to address hesitancy.

Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Team Manager.

Including updates on Covid-19, Influenza, Polio, MPX Vaccination Programmes.

RECEIVED the presentation, on behalf of the ICP Immunisation and Screening Group, presented by Gayan Perera, Public Health Intelligence Team Manager, and Dr Hetul Shah.

NOTED

1.    Uptake of Covid-19 and flu vaccinations in Enfield was reported, across wards and cohorts.

2.    There was a current campaign to boost children’s polio immunisation.

3.    North Central London ICB were taking action in respect of Monkey Pox to support diagnostics/testing and the delivery of vaccinations.

4.    Communication of public health messaging and local schemes and initiatives in Enfield were set out.

IN RESPONSE

5.    In response to Members’ queries, it was confirmed that to improve vaccination uptake within communities where there had been more hesitancy there had been engagement with faith leaders: this was powerful as they were trusted voices. They had been able to promote webinars, pop up clinics at mosques etc, and given an opportunity for discussion of wider health issues.

6.    It was requested that measles immunisation information was included within future update reports. Rates of MMR vaccination followed the same patterns as other immunisation take-up across Enfield. It would also be useful to receive comparison of rates in Enfield against the other North Central London boroughs. Every opportunity should be taken to lift up children’s immunisation.

7.    In response to enquiries regarding polio risk, it was confirmed that the current campaign was centred on children following national guidance, but the immunisation offer was open to all who had not received a complete dose.

8.    Board members were encouraged to promote flu vaccinations this autumn, due to concerns further to a bad flu season in Australia and already high UK flu incidence.