Agenda item

10:10

This paper gives an update on the:

·         Oxfordshire COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

·         Primary care

·         NHS System Recovery Planning in Oxfordshire

Information about elective care recovery is available in a separate paper on this agenda. Up to date information about the number of COVID cases will be presented at the meeting on 25 November.

The Committee had received a report on the Oxfordshire COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, Primary Care and NHS System Recovery Planning in Oxfordshire. 

Ansaf Azhar, Corporate Director for Public Health, gave a presentation on the latest Covid figures, published in Addenda 2 on the eve of the meeting.  The latest figures on new cases were showing an increase, mainly among younger age groups not yet vaccinated.

It was expected that the rates will fluctuate but remain high overall going into winter.  The booster campaign had stabilised rates among over 60s.  The data on 16-17 years olds and 12-15 year olds demonstrated how their rates dropped when the vaccine roll-out reached those age groups.

Ansaf Azhar emphasised the importance of maintaining all of the precautions against transmission such as wearing face-coverings, maintaining distances and ensuring ventilation.

Members asked questions and Ansaf Azhar and Jo Cogswell, Director of Transformation, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, responded as follows:

·         It was not possible to invoke the Government’s Plan B locally.  The recent increase in case rates had not impacted greatly on hospital admissions.  There was pressure on A&E services which could be alleviated by encouraging people to make greater use of the 111 service.

·         Extra government funding for the winter will be used to increase the number of face-to-face appointments available and improve telephone answering rates.  This can be done through increased shifts by part-time staff or possibly purchasing remote consultations.  Also, it was expected that some general practices will reduce their commitment to the vaccine programme for the next age groups.

·         Members can assure the public that the boosters were effective.  Case rates were rising in all age groups except over 60s who have had the booster.

·         Vaccination rates among the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities was better in Oxfordshire than the South East Region average but there was still work to be done to improve them.

·         Research was continuing to assess if the vaccine should be made available to under 10s.  A second dose will be made available to 16-17 year olds 12 weeks after their first.

·         OCCG was working with providers to ensure that as many staff as possible get vaccinated in time to meet the Government deadlines and to assess what impact there might be if staff are lost as a result of refusal to be vaccinated.

·         Many healthcare staff were in younger age groups and so will not be eligible for boosters yet.

·         It was known that immunity from infection wears off faster than from the vaccine which is why those who have had Covid are still encouraged to get the vaccine.

Councillor Jabu Nala-Hartley stated that some of those reluctant to get the vaccine were not in ‘hard-to-reach’ groups.  They were distrustful of the system and needed to be reassured about the booster in particular.  Ansaf Azhar responded that the likelihood was that repeated boosters may prove to be required - similar to the annual flu vaccine.

RESOLVED: that the Committee

a)    works with health partners in relation to hard-to-reach groups to develop frequently asked questions, supported by the Council’s communications team.

b)   will develop at their virtual work planning meeting a template for reporting to HOSC to focus on Covid recovery and include data on vaccination uptake, testing, impact on hospital admissions, ambulance services, care homes, workforce and recovery funding.

Actions

·         Jo Cogswell to report to the next meeting on the allocation of Winter Access Funds.

·         Ansaf Azhar to provide the data on communities with relatively low uptake of vaccine.

·         Jo Cogswell to provide figures on the vaccine uptake among care staff.

·         Chair to invite NHS England Improvement to a future meeting as they commission the vaccination programme.